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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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February
Govt mulling serious action against Panama, Iran tankers
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 26 - The Indonesian government will take serious action against two foreign tankers, Panamanian-flagged MT Freya and Iranian-flagged MT Horse, for entering Indonesian waters and conducting illegal activities, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said.
"The government would take legal measures," Sumadi said during his visit to Batam, Riau Islands on Thursday.
The authorities are investigating the case in adherence with international laws, he added.
The deputy for legal and human rights at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Sugeng Purnomo, said the government has established a task force to probe the case.
"The establishment of the task force would not intervene with law enforcement, but it will support the legal measures taken regarding the illegal entry of MT Horse and MT Freya," he added.
The tankers were seized in the waters off Pontianak, West Kalimantan province on January 24, 2021 and escorted to Batam Island for further investigation.
The tankers were first detected at 5:30 a.m. local time on January 23, 2021. They reportedly tried to conceal their identity by not displaying their national flags and turning off their automatic identification systems. They also did not respond to a radio call, said officials.
Oil was allegedly being transferred from MT Horse to MT Freya when they were discovered by the authorities. An oil spill was also detected around the receiving tanker.
Director of the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard, Ahmad, has said the two ships have violated the shipping channel and polluted the marine environment.
The two ships have been sealed and all evidence has been handed over to the Indonesian Sea and Coast Guard, he added. (Antaranews)
February
Feb. 26 - The Papua provincial administration has begun distributing relief aid packages to prevent several hundred residents of Intan Jaya district, who have fled their homes amid safety concerns, from falling into hunger, an official said.
"Considering the refugees' condition, and responding to the instructions of Papua Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal, we have begun distributing the aid packages since Wednesday," head of Papua's Social Affairs Office, Ribka Haluk, said.
The Papua Social Affairs Office has provided 120 tonnes of rice, 13 thousand instant noodle packs, one ton of sugar, and one thousand cans of sardines, she said in a statement received by ANTARA in Jayapura on Thursday.
According to Haluk, the Papua Social Affairs Office has also provided 30 velbeds, 50 family kits, 50 foodware packages, 80 wool blankets, 100 mattresses, and 126 kitchen sets to refugees.
"We have also provided them with 357 packages containing cleaning supplies for kids, 320 packages containing cleaning supplies for elders, and 320 packages for those with special needs," she informed.
The Papua Social Affairs Office has also sent two teams to observe the current conditions of those taking refuge in the district of Nabire and Timika city, the capital of Mimika district, she added.
Haluk said her office is coordinating with the Indonesian Social Affairs Ministry in Jakarta to handle those fleeing their homes in the wake of violence unleashed by armed Papuan groups against army and police personnel as well as civilians.
"A solid coordination with the Intan Jaya district administration has been made. We have also coordinated the handling of this social work with the Indonesian Social Affairs Ministry in Jakarta. Its response has been so quick," she stated.
The Papua provincial administration is making efforts to restore normalcy in Intan Jaya, which has witnessed a spate in violence against civilians and security personnel in the past two years.
Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September, 2020, with notorious armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.
The government has launched emergency response measures to address the impact of the most recent instances of armed conflict, which have forced around 600 locals to flee their homes.
During a meeting in provincial capital Jayapura on Tuesday, Papua Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal said the handling of locals taking refuge for safety reasons will be the government's priority, he said.
Meanwhile, at the meeting, deputy head of Intan Jaya district, Yan Kobogoyau, said conditions in the district have been improving and many refugees have gradually returned home.
The Papua provincial government is expected to take strategic measures to restore normalcy in Intan Jaya, he added. (Antaranews)
February
Trade deals to enhance export diversification: Deputy Minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 25 - Deputy Minister of Trade Jerry Sambuaga expressed belief that the free trade agreement will boost the diversification of exports from the perspective of products and destination regions.
"There is a need to diversify, both in terms of the destination country and type of product, one way for it being through the trade deal. The trade agreement will provide incentive, in terms of tariff and non-tariff, for several Indonesian export products," Sambuaga noted during a webinar on Economic Diplomacy for National Leader organized by the central bank, Bank Indonesia.
In a statement here on Wednesday, Sambuaga remarked that Indonesia’s top 10 export products had contributed over 59 percent to the country's total export value, and 10 top importer countries, with 60 percent of the contribution to Indonesia's exports.
"For instance, the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) offers zero-percent tariff for some 6,900 Indonesian products. Similarly, with other trade deals, this is an opportunity for alternative products to grow," he expounded.
Additionally, the trade agreement will open up new markets for Indonesia. The country has targeted Africa and South America as potential markets in addition to East Europe, Southeast Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Indonesia finalized the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Mozambique that is projected to help the country make inroads into potential markets in central and southern parts of Africa.
"In South America, we have the Indonesia-Chile CEPA that has proven to significantly increase the benefits of the letter of origin. Hence, Indonesia could penetrate other markets around the country," he remarked.
Indonesia's exports to some potential regions have grown considerably in January. Exports to South Africa grew 138.15 percent year-on-year (yoy) and 57.7 percent yoy to East Africa.
Export to other regions that have trade deals with Indonesia also increased, including to Southeast Asia, with a growth of 10.86 percent, and Australia, 22.77 percent.
"Market expansion and wider access for alternative products to the market will also attract both domestic and foreign investors. Hence, economic growth would be followed by labor absorption and improvement of the people's welfare," he stated. (Antaranews)
February
Ministry makes 5-day quarantine mandatory for international travelers
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 25 - All international travelers, including Indonesian nationals, entering Indonesian territory will have to compulsorily undergo five-day self-isolation at government-designated facilities from now on, a Health Ministry official said.
The guideline has been included in the COVID-19 Handling Task Force’s Circular No. 8 of 2021 on health protocols for international travelers amid the pandemic, the ministry's sub-coordinator for the territorial health quarantine and land border cross post, I Made Yosi Purbadi Wirentana, said during an online discussion held here on Wednesday.
"The obligation to follow health protocols for international travelers applies not only to foreign nationals, but also Indonesian nationals," he added.
The preventive screening of foreign and Indonesian nationals traveling to Indonesia will start from an examination in the country of origin and end with an examination at the self-isolation facility, he said.
All foreign or Indonesian nationals traveling to Indonesia will be required to secure a negative RT-PCR test certificate, issued a maximum of three days prior to departure, he informed.
Upon arrival in Indonesia, international travelers will need to undergo another RT-PCR test and a mandatory five-day centralized quarantine, he said.
International travelers categorized as Indonesian migrant workers, students, and government officers will be required to undergo a five-day quarantine at the Pandemangan House in Jakarta upon arrival.
Meanwhile, Indonesian citizens outside the category and foreign nationals will be required to quarantine at 20 recommended hotels for 20 days at their own expense.
International travelers will have to undergo another RT-PCR test after completing the five-day quarantine. If they test negative for COVID-19, then they will be allowed to proceed with their journey in the country.
If both the first and second RT-PCR tests show positive results, they will be referred to a COVID-19 hospital. The government will only bear the medical bills of Indonesian nationals, while foreign nationals would have to pay the treatment costs themselves.
Foreign nationals who hold diplomatic visas, and official visas related to official or state visits for minister-level foreign officials, and foreign nationals traveling to Indonesia under the Travel Corridor Arrangement scheme will be exempt from mandatory quarantine, Wirentana informed. (Antaranews)
February
1.3 million Indonesians get COVID-19 vaccine shots
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 25 - A total of 1,363,138 Indonesians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday, with 825,650 people receiving their second vaccine dose, too, according to the Health Ministry.
The number of people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine rose by 93,233 on Wednesday compared to the day before. Meanwhile, the number of people receiving their second dose increased by 35,684, as per ministry data.
The 1,363,138 Indonesians mainly comprised healthcare workers, who have been prioritized under the first phase of the vaccination program, and public service officers, who are being vaccinated under the second phase of the program.
A total of 1,468,764 healthcare workers across Indonesia are expected to get vaccinated in the first phase of the vaccination program.
The government has set a target of inoculating 181,554,464 people, or 70 percent of the total population of Indonesia, with the aim of building herd immunity against the coronavirus.
It launched the second phase of the vaccination program on February 17, 2021, with the inoculation of traders in the textile market Tanah Abang in Jakarta.
The next targeted group under the vaccination program are public service officers, including police and military personnel, and journalists.
The government is planning a mass vaccination program for journalists and media workers at the Basket Hall of the Bung Karno Sport Stadium in Jakarta on February 25, 26, and 27 this year. (Antaranews)
February
Peaceful protest held at Indonesian Embassy in Myanmar: FM spokesman
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 24 - A protest on Tuesday supporting ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi held before the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon ran peacefully, though the embassy's authority should ensure the safety of all Indonesians in the country.
The protest that arose following a Reuters' report ran without acts of violence, Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, informed journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday.
However, Faizasyah admitted that over the course of the past few weeks, waves of protests against the military coup on February 1, 2021, had continued in Myanmar and made the country's condition unstable.
"This is a factual reality that our embassy in Myanmar needs to manage to ensure that all members of the Indonesian community in the country remain well-protected," Faizasyah affirmed.
A journalist in Myanmar named Hnin Zaw uploaded four photos of the rally at the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon on Tuesday on her Twitter account @hninyadanazaw.
In one of the photos shared by Zaw, the demonstrators brandished their posters bearing the words "Please save our leader, future, hope" and "We don't need another election. Respect our votes" outside the embassy's compound.
Faizasyah denied the Reuters' news report released on Monday that said Jakarta had agreed on Myanmar junta's action plan to conduct a new election.
Faizasyah affirmed that supporting the new election was not the Indonesian government's political stance.
"I deny there is a plan of action. It is absolutely not Indonesia's position," he emphasized.
On the contrary, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has been striving to consult with her counterparts from other ASEAN member states to obtain their views on Myanmar's political crisis, he pointed out.
Marsudi's meetings with her counterparts had been mandated by President Joko Widodo's recent meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Jakarta early this month, according to Faizasyah.
To this end, over this past week, Foreign Minister Marsudi had embarked on a visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
The minister will continue her trip to Thailand in the near future to consult with her counterpart on how ASEAN plays a role in seeking solutions to Myanmar's political crisis, he noted.
"What we want to underline is how we can find a peaceful solution in Myanmar, an inclusive democratic political process that involves all parties," he affirmed.
Over the course of the past few weeks, Myanmar has been hit by a series of large-scale demonstrations against the military coup taking place on February 1, 2021.
The protesters in Myanmar demanded an immediate release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and recognition of her National League for Democracy's (NLD's) victory in the second parliamentary elections held on October 29, 2020.
According to BBC on Feb 1, 2021, following the coup, Myanmar's military seized power, while Suu Kyi and other democratically elected leaders were detained. (Antaranews)
February
Govt highlights increased 2021 PEN budget to reach Rp699.43 trillion
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 24 - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati revealed that budget for the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN) had increased to Rp699.43 trillion in 2021, from Rp688.33 trillion.
This year's budget is up 21 percent, from last year's PEN realization, at Rp579.78 trillion, and is expected to be an effective driving force for economic recovery, especially in the first quarter of 2021.
"We are optimistic that the PEN budget, which has increased by 21 percent, will be an effective driving force for recovery, especially from January to February. This is expected to continue until March," Indrawati stated during an online press conference on the KiTA State Budget here on Tuesday.
The budgeted Rp699.43 trillion is focused in five areas: health, social protection, priority programs, business incentives, and support for MSMEs and corporate financing.
In the health field, the government has allotted a budget of Rp176.3 trillion, including Rp58.18 trillion for the vaccination program, Rp9.91 trillion for diagnostics (testing and tracing), Rp61.94 trillion for therapeutics, Rp18.61 trillion for health tax incentives, and Rp27.67 trillion for other treatments.
Some Rp157.41 trillion is allocated for the social protection programs that includes Rp20 trillion for pre-work allowance and Rp14.4 trillion for rural funds.
The government's priority programs receive Rp125.06 trillion of which Rp27.33 trillion is set aside for labor-intensive projects, Rp47.1 trillion for food security, Rp11.33 trillion for industrial areas, Rp10 trillion for regional loans, Rp16.65 trillion for ICT, Rp8.66 trillion for tourism, and Rp4.11 trillion for other priorities.
To support MSMEs and corporations, the government has assigned Rp186.81 trillion, including for interest subsidies for MSMEs amounting to Rp31.95 trillion.
As for business incentives, the apportioned budget reaches Rp53.86 trillion, including for tax incentives.
"PEN has jumped close to 21 percent of its budget since this is the most important driving force in our economy today," she stated. (Antaranews)
February
Foreign Ministry denies Indonesia backing new election in Myanmar
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 24 - The Indonesian Foreign Ministry has refuted a Reuters report saying Jakarta has agreed to Myanmar junta’s action plan for holding fresh elections, affirming that is not the Indonesian government’s political stance.
"I deny there is a plan of action. It is absolutely not Indonesia's position," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah told journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has been striving to consult with her counterparts from other ASEAN member states to gather their views on Myanmar's political crisis, he said.
Marsudi's meetings with her counterparts have followed President Joko Widodo's recent meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in Jakarta early this month, he added.
Foreign Minister Marsudi has visited Brunei Darussalam and Singapore over the past week, Faizasyah informed.
She is scheduled to make a trip to Thailand in the near future to consult with her counterpart about how ASEAN can play a role in seeking solutions to Myanmar's political crisis, he said.
"What we want to underline is how we can find a peaceful solution in Myanmar… an inclusive democratic political process that involves all parties," he stated.
The news report from Reuters, an international news agency, on Monday had prompted loyalists of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to stage a peaceful rally in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon on Tuesday.
Over the past few weeks, Myanmar has been hit by waves of protests against the military coup of February 1, 2021.
The protesters are demanding an immediate release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and recognition of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party’s victory in the second parliamentary elections, held on October 29, 2020.
According to a BBC report on February 1, 2021, following the coup, Myanmar's military seized power while Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratically-elected leaders were detained.
Myanmar is one of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The nine other member countries are Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. (Antaranews)
February
U.N. rights boss welcomes Biden stance against death penalty
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 23 - The U.N. human rights chief on Tuesday welcomed a pledge by U.S. President Joe Biden to work towards abolishing the death penalty in the United States.
Biden, a Democrat, promised voters last year he would seek to end the federal death penalty, and took office last month as the country’s first abolitionist president.
“I welcome the pledge by the new U.S. Administration to work towards ending the death penalty, both at federal and state level,” U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said.
The punishment at a federal level was revived by Donald Trump last year after a 17-year hiatus caused in part by the increasing difficulty of obtaining drugs for lethal injections.
Merrick Garland, Biden’s nominee for U.S. attorney-general, on Monday told Congress his support for the death penalty had eroded amid concerns it disproportionately affected Black Americans and other communities of colour and that too many were wrongfully convicted.
“Deterrence is often an argument of those who oppose its abolition. However, there is no evidence that it deters crime more effectively than any other punishment,” Bachelet said during a U.N. Human Rights Council debate.
“On the contrary, studies suggest that some states that have abolished the death penalty saw their murder rates unaltered or even decline,” she said.
The U.S. delegation, which has observer status, did not speak at the debate, held every two years.
The “vast majority” of countries have abolished the death penalty in law or do not carry out executions in practice, Bachelet said.
Iran and Saudi Arabia, among the top five countries carrying out executions according to Amnesty International, defended the practice during the debate as being only for the most serious offences, in line with sharia law. (Reuters)
February
Minister declares formation of team to review Indonesia's ITE Law
Written by Nur Yasmin
Feb. 23 - Indonesia's top security minister, Mahfud MD, announced the formation of an inter-ministerial team to review the country's Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law to follow up on President Joko Widodo's request to revise the law.
The team members will work for a period of three months until May 22, 2021, to decide whether the ITE Law needs to be revised, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated at a virtual press conference that ANTARA participated in from Jakarta on Monday.
The team members, recruited from his ministry, the Communication and Informatics Ministry, and Ministry of Law and Human Rights, will review the existing law's chapters that can give rise to various interpretations, he pointed out.
"Reviewing or revising the ITE Law, whose articles, according to several elements in the society at large, can lead to multiple interpretations is necessary," he emphasized, adding that the joint team comprises a steering team and organizing team.
Mahfud MD, Communication and Informatics Minister Jhonny G. Plate, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Attorney General S. T. Burhanuddin, and National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo are members of the steering team.
The organizing team, whose members are tasked with reviewing the ITE Law's chapters, is headed by Deputy for Coordinating Legal and Human Rights Issues at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Sugeng Purnomo.
The organizing team alone is divided into two sub-teams that prioritize formulating criteria for implementing the ITE Law, and on comprehensive examination of the law's legal content, determine whether the law needs amendment.
The enforcement of Indonesia's ITE Law has brought to the fore several pros and cons in society over the past few years after it was applied to send several people to court over allegations that they have slandered figures or organizations on YouTube and social media platforms.
ANTARA noted that Soni Eranata, alias Ustadz Maaher At-Thuwailibi, a popular and outspoken Muslim preacher was one of those charged by police investigators under the ITE Law.
Ustadz Maaher was arrested at his house in Bogor, West Java, on December 3, 2020, after Husin Shahab filed a defamation case against him.
The complainant had accused Ustadz Maaher of slandering Maulana Al-Habib Muhammad Luthfi bin Ali bin Yahya, also known as Habib Luthfi, a noted ulema of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), on his Twitter account.
A day after his arrest, on December 4, 2020, police investigators named him a suspect and detained him at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim).
On February 4, 2021, the public prosecutors' office accepted Ustadz Maaher's dossier, thereby amending his detention status, from police detainee to the public prosecutors' detainee.
The public prosecutors' office decided to detain Ustadz Maaher at the Bareskrim prison cell from February 4 to February 23, 2021.
On February 6, 2021, Ustadz Maaher again complained of illness, and the doctors advised that he be sent back to the Said Soekanto Police Hospital.
However, the police confirmed that he repeatedly refused to get re-admitted to the police hospital, but instead, reportedly insisted on staying at the prison and receiving treatment from the police's team of doctors.
Ustadz Maaher died in his Bareskrim prison cell at 7:30 p.m. local time on February 8, 2021.
Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has sought an inquiry by the National Police into his death. (Antaranews)