VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Over 200 Indonesian Muslim pilgrims are still stuck in India because of the lockdown in the country.

"Our team, especially at the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi and the Indonesian Consulate General in Mumbai, will continue to work hard to get 237 other pilgrims," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a press statement on Thursday.

Retno explained that the pilgrims are spread across several states in India, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Kamataka, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

The ministry has repatriated 122 pilgrims on Wednesday.

"Thank God, they arrived safely in Jakarta this morning. With their return, we have successfully repatriated 515 pilgrims or 2/3 of the total pilgrims in India," Retno said.

She said this issue was the focus of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia-India Meeting, at the ASEAN meeting last Saturday. All delegations, especially the Indian Foreign Minister, responded well.

"Because this is the context that ASEAN and pilgrims are not only come from Indonesia but also from other ASEAN countries, so I called out to help the pilgrims to return to their respective countries. the Indian Foreign Minister responded well," she said.

Previously, more from 700 Indonesian Muslim pilgrims went to India to attend the annual meeting of the Islamic organization on March 3, 2020. Before they had time to return to their homeland, the government of India locked down the country.

The event was followed in over 80 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, to the United States. (RRI)

Jakarta. The Transportation Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) collaborates with the University of Indonesia (UI) in strengthening air transportation health standards.

"The study of health standards is designed to conform to health protocols. According to the rules set by the COVID-19 Task Force, the Ministry of Health and refers to international regulations," Umiyatun Hayati Triastuti, head of transportation research and development agency for the Ministry of Transportation, said through a written statement received in Jakarta, Friday.

The pandemic is a challenge for the Ministry of Transportation as the regulator in the transportation sector to determine policies according to the situation.

The initial recommendation for passenger health standards at the airport and onboard was the implementation of strict health protocols, monitored by authorized personnel. Also engineered seat arrangement for physical distancing, limitation of passenger capacity, cabin baggage, food distribution, and boarding processes. 

The Ministry of Transportation continues to make improvements in policymaking during the pandemic period, which requires cooperation between transportation stakeholders, including academics.

"For example, in this case, the collaboration between the government and academia is to conduct studies and policy recommendations," he said.

In addition, cooperation between the government, the private sector, airlines, airports, and passengers is compactly focused on mutual improvement and security.

They have implemented health protocols since the beginning of entering the airport until leaving for passengers and cabin crew. One of them is reducing the interaction between passengers and airport officials. This can be done by maximizing the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology by the airport. 

This technology also increases service time (reduced waiting time) including the time of medical examinations on departure and arrival.

All cabin crew and passengers must also use personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of transmission to a low one.

The policies issued by the Ministry of Transportation in the air transportation sector is based on in-depth research studies.

However, cooperation between institutions and the community is needed in obeying the health protocol so its implementation runs optimally. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan asked governors in the eight provinces that contributed the most to COVID-19 cases to prepare two or three-star hotels to become quarantine centers for patients without symptoms or those with mild symptoms for self-isolation.

Jodi Mahardi spokesperson for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment said Luhut made the request while chairing a virtual coordination meeting for COVID-19 control, on Thursday.

"The Coordinating Minister asked the governors to follow the steps taken by the Governor of South Sulawesi Nurdin Abdullah," he said in Jakarta, on Thursday.

Head of BNPB Doni Monardo said that the use of hotels as quarantine places could solve the high occupancy of ICU rooms in hospitals. 

"Regarding the readiness of the hotel, I have coordinated with the regions. If the regional budget is lacking, we can help provide it, with recommendations from the local health center," Doni explained.

Jodi said Luhut also asked the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Doni Monardo to continue to work with regional governments to disinfect their regions. 

"The Coordinating Minister asked Doni to spray disinfectant at crowded locations every day or every other day," Jodi said.

Jodi said Luhut asked the Health Ministry to ensure the need for drugs and therapy for COVID-19 patients, so there is a standard of medicine for COVID-19 patients in all regions.

"According to the Coordinating Minister, it is impossible to reduce the total number of Covid-19 patients before a vaccine or drug for is found, but if collaboration between the central, regional, military and police can be carried out systematically, we can reduce the rate of cases," Jodi said. added.

For the National Army and National Police, continued Jodi, Luhut asked that Justice operations must be carried out in a consistent and disciplined manner. 

In the coordination meeting, several regional heads also conveyed input, including West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, who requested that the data for COVID-19 patients synced between the central and regional governments so that there is no confusion in the circulating data in society.

Ridwan Kamil also asked for assistance from the Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to learn about the COVID-19 monitoring application that has been used in the capital.

Also present at the meeting were the Special Staff of the Minister of Health for Development and Health Financing Dr. Alexander K Ginting, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, and North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Indonesia and the European Union published the European Union-Indonesia Cooperation 2020, on Thursday, in Jakarta.

This publication book summarizes efforts to advance sustainable development to mitigate the effects of climate change. This book also highlights the various achievements of development programs in Indonesia that are supported by the European Union and its member countries.

Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa highlighted the European Union's support for development in Indonesia. He said the European Union has become a cooperation partner for Indonesia not only before the Covid-19 pandemic occurred but also when the pandemic hits Indonesia.

He hopes that the cooperation of the two parties will continue to be improved so that it can achieve welfare for the community.

The European Union-Indonesia Cooperation 2020 takes on the theme Building Capacity for Green Growth.

EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Piket said the world community must look at post-pandemic development efforts.

He said the social and economic impacts of the pandemic must be addressed through sustainable environmental development because environmental challenges are increasingly being faced by the world.

"Of course, we need to look beyond the current crisis. We need to look beyond, the immediate crisis response and think very hard about the post-COVID-19 recovery, economic recovery, and social recovery. And that brings I think to the theme of this year's cooperation, its building capacity for green growth," Piket said.

"Because in our view, post-COVID-19 recovery has to be a green one, a sustainable one. Because while we battle the COVID-19 pandemic, on one hand, the climate crisis is ever more real and in front of our eyes," he said.

Regarding the economic and social recovery, in particular, the ambassador said the European Union would continue to increase trade and investment cooperation in Indonesia, including through the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA).

Currently, the CEPA negotiations are still ongoing and Piket said based on the research conducted in Indonesia, if the CEPA agreement is successfully agreed upon, Indonesia will have economic resiliency and rapid economic growth. (RRI)