VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 2 - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Monday she hopes to use Washington’s presidency of the United Nations Security Council in March to push for more “intense discussions” on Myanmar.

Myanmar’s elected civilian government was ousted in a military coup on Feb. 1. Myanmar’s U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun appealed to the United Nations on Friday “to use any means necessary to take action against the Myanmar military” to restore democracy to the Southeast Asian country.

“I hope to use our time as president of the council to push for more intense discussions,” Thomas-Greenfield told reporters, adding that she planned to have a Security Council discussion on Myanmar “sooner rather than later.”

The Security Council voiced concern - in a statement last month - over a state of emergency imposed by the Myanmar military for one year, but stopped short of condemning the coup due to opposition by Russia and China.

Police in Myanmar have dispersed protests against the coup with tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. On Sunday, police fired on crowds in several places, killing 18 people, the U.N. human rights office said.

Thomas-Greenfield said Washington was ready to use its renewed engagement at the United Nations and internationally “to press the military to reverse its actions and restore a democratically elected government.”

“But the violence we’re seeing happening now does not indicate that they’re ready to make what I would consider an easy decision for them to make,” she said. “So we do have to ramp up the pressure.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pledged to mobilize global pressure “to make sure that this coup fails.”

Myanmar state television announced on Saturday that Kyaw Moe Tun had been fired for betraying the country. He told Reuters: “I decided to fight back as long as I can.”

The United Nations does not officially recognize the junta as Myanmar’s new government as it has received no official notification of any change in government or U.N. representation.

“We have not received any communication concerning changes in the representation of Myanmar here at the U.N. in New York,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Monday. “And nor have our colleagues in protocol received any information from the Permanent Mission in Myanmar on any changes in the government.” (Reuters)

Mar. 2 -  The Papua provincial administration hinted on Monday that it would review the Indonesian government's decision to open investment in the liquor industry in the province.

The implementation of the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) would be adjusted to Papua's conditions, the Papua provincial government's secretary, Doren Wakerkwa, said.

"We have had special regional regulation No.13/2015 so the presidential regulation will be adjusted to the characteristics of respective regions," he told journalists here.

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe's directives have revealed that it is better for the province to be free from liquor for the sake of ensuring secure and comfortable lives for its people, he said.

Hence, the proposal for opening investment in the liquor industry in Papua would be adjusted as per the provincial government's authority, he added.

President Joko Widodo signed the Presidential Regulation (No.10/2021) on Investment on February 2, 2021, opening up investment in the alcoholic beverages industry in the provinces of Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, and Papua.

Filep Wamafma, a member of the Regional Representatives' Council (DPD) who represents West Papua's electoral area, made an earnest request to President Widodo to revoke the investment permit.

"We appeal to Mr. President to revoke the government's investment permit for the alcoholic beverages industry in Papua," he stated in a press statement issued on Saturday.

He warned of a spike in crime rate following liquor intake in the country's easternmost province.

The presidential regulation has been issued as a follow-up to the job creation law passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) last year.

"Referring to the presidential regulation, the liquor industry may obtain investment from both foreign and domestic investors," Wamafma stated.

Investment in the liquor industry could also come from cooperative units and small and medium enterprises, he remarked.

ANTARA has earlier reported on how alcohol consumption remains a grave problem in Papua in spite of a ban on the production, distribution, and sale of liquor in the province since 2016.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is believed to have contributed to the shortened life expectancy of native Papuans.  (Antaranews)

Mar. 2 -  The number of foreign tourists visiting Jakarta dived 94.3 percent to 1,244 in January, 2021 from 21,858 in December, 2020, chief of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Office in Jakarta, Buyung Airlangga, said.

“Compared to the same month last year, the number of tourist arrivals in January, 2021 also plummeted 99.28 percent,” he said during an online press conference on Monday.

South Korea (90) led in the number of tourist arrivals in January, 2021, followed by Saudi Arabia (66), China (61), the United States (52) and Japan (44).

The top five sources of tourist arrivals in Jakarta also changed compared to the previous month.

In January, 2021, South Korea overtook China, which has regularly dominated tourist arrivals in the capital.

Saudi Arabia replaced Russia as the second biggest source of tourist arrivals.

The US remained in the fourth place, while Japan replaced Ukraine to take the fifth spot. (Antaranews)

Mar. 2 - Indonesian soldiers stationed at Skamto security post, which is located near the border with Papua New Guinea, provided mobile health services in Yowong village, Arso Barat sub-district, Keerom district, Papua province on Sunday.

Personnel from the Indonesia-PNG Border Security Task Force visited villagers' homes and provided treatment to those in need of medical services, the task force's commanding officer, Major Anggun Wuriyanto, said in a statement issued here on Monday.

The soldiers who took part in the community service belonged to the Mechanic Raider 413/Bremoro Infantry Battalion of the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Konstrad).

The mobile health services, which were provided several days prior to the end of their deployment at the Skamto security post, were part of borderless community services for villagers, Wuriyanto said.

"We continue doing our best to serve the residents in our endeavor to make Papua healthy and prosperous," he added.

The healthcare services were not only offered to native Papuans in Keerom, but also in other areas.

Last week, several personnel from the 756/WMS Infantry Battalion's security task force had offered mobile health services to residents of Beanekogom village, Tembagapura sub-district, Mimika district.

According to the task force's commander, Major Marolop Edison Bala Hutapea, such health services are being provided routinely as part of the task force's community services to ensure that locals remain in good health.

"The TNI (the Indonesian Military) is mindful of the difficulties faced by the residents," he remarked, adding that he has constantly reminded soldiers stationed at all security posts to maintain an emotional connect with locals.

Sincerity in conducting community services and tending to the needs of local communities would make the TNI security posts useful to them, according to Hutapea.

Tsinga security post's commanding officer, Second Lieutenant Riyanto, who led the provision of mobile health services in Beanekogom village, revealed that the task force's medical team tended to villagers ailing from minor illnesses and looking for medical consultation.

A villager, Abdon Nenotek, expressed his gratitude to the task force and commended the members for offering the mobile health services to him and other villagers and for edifying them on ways to lead a healthy life and maintain cleanliness in the village. (Antaranews)