VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government received 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinovac, Sunday night (06/12).

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in his speech delivered virtually on Sunday night, said the Sinovac vaccine had been clinically tested in Bandung since last August 2020.

In addition to the 1.2 million doses of vaccine that have just arrived in Indonesia, President Joko Widodo said the government is still working on 1.8 million doses of the vaccine which will arrive in early January 2021.

The President also added, besides the finished vaccine, 15 million dosages will also arrive in December, and in January 2021 there will be 30 million doses of vaccine in bulk raw materials which will be further processed by Bio Farma.

In his remarks, President Jokowi also expressed his gratitude for the COVID-19 vaccine.

"We are very grateful. Alhamdulillah, the vaccine is available, meaning that we can immediately prevent the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. But to start vaccination still requires steps from the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM)," the President said.

Apart from delivering the good news about the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine, President Jokowi also emphasized several things related to the COVID-19 vaccine.

"And I need to emphasize. First, all procedures must be followed properly in order to ensure public health and safety as well as vaccine effectiveness," Jokowi said.

"Scientific considerations, the results of this clinical trial will determine when vaccination can be started. Second, the vaccine distribution system to the regions, this is very important as well as supporting equipment, human resources, and vaccination management," he added.

"Third, because it is not possible to vaccinate simultaneously for all residents, I hope all parties will follow the announcements and instructions from the officers who are currently preparing vaccinations," he closed.

At the end of his remarks, President Jokowi advised that even though vaccines were available, the public was asked to remain disciplined in carrying out health protocols, namely wearing masks, maintaining distance, and washing hands. (VOI)

Indonesia has encouraged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to strengthen security sector governance in post-conflict countries.

"The situation of post-conflict countries is getting more complicated due in part to the poor capacity and weakness of security institutions to support handling of the COVID-19 pandemic," Deputy Foreign Minister Mahendra Siregar noted in the Foreign Ministry’s written statement made available on Friday.

Siregar made the statement during the UNSC High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, Security Sector Governance and Reform on Thursday (Dec 3).

At the meeting, Siregar highlighted three key points to attain more effective, professional, and accountable security sector governance to tackle the latest security challenges and prevent recurrence of conflicts.

Firstly, the minister underscored the importance of aligning security sector reform efforts to the respective requirements and the national context.

"Each country must formulate and lead their security sector reform efforts inclusively," he remarked while encouraging the participation of related stakeholders, including civil society and women, in the endeavor.

Secondly, Siregar drew attention to the need to intensify the UN's role in supporting security sector reform in conflict-stricken nations.

"To implement its mandate, peacekeeping mission, and special political missions effectively, the UN must be equipped with sufficient resources and capacity," he emphasized.

Indonesia also laid stress on boosting synergy between the UNSC and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), especially during the transitional period, he stated.

"Partnership with all relevant stakeholders is the key to successful reform in the security sector," he remarked.

In this context, the UN system should be able to boost partnership with regional organizations and international financial institutions.

Siregar further shared Indonesia's experiences and success in reforming the security sector as part of political reform and democratization in the early 2000s.

Success of the security sector reform necessitated a sense of national belonging, strong support from the international community, and global responsibility in the interests of all human beings.

"Indonesia remains committed to becoming a genuine partner to support peace through the security sector reform," he stated. (Antaranews)

The government has imposed progressive export levies on palm oil products, including crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives, according to the Finance Minister’s Regulation (no. 191/PKM.05/2020) issued on December 3, 2020.

"The export levies were set based on the reference price of CPO," the document obtained here on Friday stated.

The regulation is based on the decision on export levies taken by the Indonesian Palm Oil Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) steering committee, led by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.

In a statement, the agency's division for fund collection and derivative products fees explained the decision to adjust the export levies is based on the positive trend in CPO prices.

It is also aimed at supporting the development of the national palm oil industry, including the improvement of productivity in upstream industry through the replanting program and support to the mandatory biodiesel program to boost domestic demand, it said.

Under the ministerial regulation, export levies would be implemented progressively, with an increase from US$5 to US$15 for each increase in the price of palm oil of US$25 per metric ton (MT).

The export levy has been fixed at $55 per mt for CPO price of $670 per mt or less; $60/mt for CPO price of $670 - $695/mt; and, $75/mt for CPO price of $695 - $720/mt.

The highest levy has been set at $255 per metric ton for CPO price above $995/mt.

In total, there are 24 types of services for palm oil and its derivatives export levies.

"The ministerial regulation will take effect seven days after its issuance," the agency said. (Antaranews)

More than 1,600 Rohingya refugees sailed on Friday from Bangladesh’s southern port of Chittagong for the remote island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal, a naval official said.

The south Asian nation says moving the refugees will ease chronic overcrowding in camps that are home to more than 1 million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority who have fled neighbouring Myanmar.

But refugees and humanitarian workers say have some of the Rohingya had been coerced, despite government assertions that none would be forced to go.

The naval official said the Rohingya were aboard seven boats, with two more carrying supplies. (Reuters)