VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK), Muhadjir Effendi, who was present at the Solidarity Act for Palestine in Jakarta on Sunday, emphasized that the public does not need to doubt the government's stance on Palestine's independence.

He conveyed this together with Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi who were present at the activity.

"We are here to represent the government," he said.

He then explained that their presence was assigned by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

"We were assigned by President Jokowi. Do not doubt the government's stance on Palestine. We will support Palestine with all of our strength until Palestine is free," he continued.

Effendy also asked the public to pray for Palestinians' well-being and their freedom from prolonged suffering.

Meanwhile, Minister Qoumas invited the public to perform prayers for the martyrs who were victims of Israel's regime.

"We are all gathered here because we care about Palestinian people. I ask everyone to perform prayer for their well-being and to pray for the martyrs who are victims of Israel," he noted.

He also hoped that the Palestinian people would soon gain peace, justice, and independence.

In addition, Foreign Affairs Minister Marsudi conveyed that the first humanitarian aid from Indonesia had been sent to Palestine.

"Yesterday the first aid was sent directly by President Jokowi. Those did not only come from the government but also from the community. Once the aid arrives, it will be distributed through humanitarian institutions," she remarked.

Aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip includes food, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and other logistical items weighing a total of 51.5 tons.

The aid was transported using three aircraft, namely two C-130 Hercules aircraft with tail numbers A-1327 and A-1328 from the 31st Air Squadron and 32nd Air Squadron of the Indonesian Air Force, as well as one chartered Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737 aircraft. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, shared the agenda for fostering youth toward realizing the Golden Indonesia 2045 goal at the national working meeting of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) here.

The younger generation is the backbone of the nation and will bear great responsibility in realizing the nation's ideals, he said at the meeting on Saturday.

One of Indonesia's aspirations is to become an independent, sovereign, just, and prosperous country by 2045, when it celebrates 100 years of independence, he added.

"As a nation that has rich natural resources and extraordinary diversity, Indonesia has a big vision, namely Golden Indonesia 2045," he said.

He added that 2045 is 22 years away and the current young generation, especially those aged 18 and above, will be the leaders of the nation by then.

"When they are 35 years old and above, they will lead (assume leadership positions) in Indonesia. If we live until old age, we can witness it," he said.

Indonesia, with its current gross domestic product (GDP) of US$5 thousand per capita, is expected to become a developed country with a GDP of US$30,600 per capita.

Effendy said that Indonesia needs to boost its current GDP by 6 times to achieve the goal.

"We are not there yet, even though our current (economic) growth is relatively better compared to the 20 major countries," he explained.

Acting governor of South Sulawesi, Bahtiar Baharuddin, said that ICMI's national working meeting provided insights about the domestic political contestancy in 2024.

All presidential candidates were invited to share their strategies for building Indonesia at the forum.

Baharuddin said that the forum was held in Makassar as it is considered conducive and many national political figures have come from the city. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Ambassador of Palestine to Indonesia Zuhair Al Shun commended the government and people of Indonesia for their contribution to helping the Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

"We are genuinely proud of your people, your government. Whatever the aid is, whatever the support is, will be more than enough to Palestine," Al Shun remarked after attending the sending off ceremony of Indonesian humanitarian aid for Gaza at the Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta, on Saturday.

On that occasion, the ambassador extended his appreciation to the Indonesian government and people for the assistance provided to the people of Palestine that have been suffering from the devastating war between Palestinian Hamas and Israeli forces.

He also expressed belief that the people of Indonesia would always stand with Palestine, and would never leave the Arab state alone in its fight for independence from Israeli occupying forces.

"Indonesia, as stated by His Excellency (President Joko Widodo), will always stand with Palestine and will not leave us alone," the ambassador remarked.

The people of Indonesia feel the struggle of the Palestinian nation, he added.

"They understand and fight by our side through diplomacy. It is certain that we will succeed and become free with the help of Indonesia, the largest Muslim country," he stated.

Earlier, on Saturday morning, President Joko Widodo personally sent off the Indonesian humanitarian aid dedicated for Palestinians in Gaza at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base.

In his speech, he emphasized that the aid serves as proof of Indonesia's genuine care for humanity.

"The humanitarian tragedy happening in Gaza is unacceptable and must be ended immediately. I would like to reiterate that Indonesia will always stand by the Palestinian nation," he stressed.

President Jokowi sent off the first batch of the aid, weighing 51.5 tons in total, that includes food, medicines, medical equipment, drinking water purifiers, and blankets.

As for the second batch of the aid, Indonesia is planning to deliver it in the next three or four weeks.

During the activity, the president was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, among others. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is ready to send its hospital ship to the waters near Gaza, Palestine, to provide medical treatments to the victims of Israeli assaults, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto stated.

Subianto revealed that the Indonesian government is planning to coordinate with countries in the vicinity of the Palestinian Gaza Strip, including Egypt, to obtain approval for sending the hospital ship.

"We will coordinate with Egyptian authorities. TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) is ready to send a hospital ship that will be on standby there to provide more assistance," he remarked when met at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, on Saturday.

The minister also spoke of having informed Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al Shun, that Indonesia is always ready to help war victims from Palestine.

Earlier, Minister Subianto accompanied President Joko Widodo during the send-off of Indonesian humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base on Saturday.

On that occasion, President Widodo told the media that the government had planned on delivering humanitarian aid for Palestinian people in two batches.

"This is the first batch of aid, consisting of food, medical equipment, blankets, tents, and other logistics, needed by the people in Gaza. The aid weighs 51.5 tons and is carried by three aircraft," he remarked.

He then noted that the aid serves as proof of the Indonesian nation's solidarity and care for the people in Gaza currently suffering from a humanitarian tragedy brought by Israeli forces.

"The humanitarian tragedy in Gaza is unacceptable and must be put to an end as soon as possible," Widodo affirmed.

Two C-130 Hercules aircraft of the Indonesian Air Force and one Boeing 737 plane chartered by the National Police (Polri) have been deployed to deliver humanitarian aid.

A total of 42 flight crew and two officials from the Defense Ministry have been assigned to execute the delivery duty.

The three aircraft took off from Jakarta and will reach El Ashir, Egypt, via several countries. In Egypt, the aid will be handed over to the country's Red Crescent before being delivered to Gaza by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). (Antaranews)