VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Video screen shoot of KRI Tjiptadi-381 drove out Chinese coast guard trespassed into Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Natuna Waters, Riau Islands on Dec 30, 2019 (ANTARA)

Five Indonesian Military vessels (KRI) secure Riau Islands' Natuna Waters over foreign ships guarded by Chinese coast guard, Tanjungpinang IV Naval Main Base Information Center (Dispen Lantamal IV) Chief, Naval Mayor Saul Jamlaay stated.

"Three KRIs have been stationed in Natuna for a few days, and today, two KRIs from Jakarta have arrived in Natuna," he remarked in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, on Saturday.

He highlighted that the situation in Natuna remains conducive, and all vessels from China have been driven out of the Natuna Waters.

In addition to the military vessels, security measures were undertaken using maritime reconnaissance aircraft.

"At the moment, the condition remains conducive. However, tight security measures are still being taken on the Natuna waters," he stated.

He further noted that the Tanjungpinang IV Naval Main Base had offered logistical aid in conducting security operations in Natuna. Ranai Naval Base was directly involved in securing the Natuna Waters.

"There are no personnel from Lantamal IV, but we help with the logistics," he remarked.

He emphasized that the state was concerned over the issue of ships from China entering Natuna and that the Lantamal IV /Tanjungpinang had given special attention to this cause for concern since quite some time.

"We pay special attention to security in the border areas, including in Natuna," he added. (ANTARA)

A dead pilot whale washed ashore in South Gorontalo beach on Jan 3, 2020 (ANTARA)

A dead pilot whale washed ashore on South Gorontalo beach, Tolotio Village, Bone Sub-district, Bone Bolango District, Gorontalo Province, Sulawesi Island, on Saturday.

When local villagers found the 4-5 meter-long whale at around 5 a.m. local time, the animal was still alive.

"But when the sea water receded, the whale's body hit a coral reef. And we noticed that the whale was later dead," Tolotio Village Chief Marlen Hamdata said.

Several local villagers had tried to save the whale by pushing it back into the waters. They, however, failed to do so because the waters receded and the whale was too heavy.

Pilot whales are known to locals as "Pau Pausu", and are rarely found stranded on the coast.

Rescue efforts to save stranded mammals such as whales, dolphins and dugongs require a special method, according to the Makassar Marine Coastal Resource Management Center (BPSPL). Last year, a dead sperm whale washed ashore in Southeast Sulawesi Province, with a large lump of plastic waste in its stomach, including flip-flops and 115 drinking cups.

Rescuers from Wakatobi national marine park found the rotting carcass of the 9.5 metre (31ft) sperm whale near the park after receiving a report from environmentalists that villagers had surrounded the dead whale and were beginning to butcher the rotting carcass, park chief Heri Santoso said. (ANTARA)

The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport train.  (ANTARA)

The railway of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport located in Tengerang, Banten Province, resumed operations and served passengers starting Saturday after its operations were stopped due to major flooding affecting Jakarta and Banten.

The train speed, however, remained limited with a one-hour headway, Diah Suryandari, Public Relations Officer of PT Railink, said in a statement in Jakarta.

Adjusting travel time would be 57 minutes for the Manggarai Station - Soekarno Hatta Airport Station route and 67 minutes for the Soekarno Hatta Airport Station - Manggarai Station.

"This is due to the inspection of the railroad track which was affected by the floods and ongoing repairs," she said.

The departure of the Airport Train starts at 4:40 a.m. local time, for the Manggarai Station - BNI City Station - Duri Station - Batu Ceper Station - Soekarno Hatta Airport Station, while for the opposite routes, notably the Soekarno Hatta Airport Station - Batu Ceper Station - Duri Station - BNI City Station - Manggarai Station, it departs starting at 6:10 a.m. local time.

The airport railroad operations would be adjusted to condition on the ground, she remarked.

"Of course we hope that the Airport Train can immediately serve passengers with normal condition again, with a 30 minute headway and shorter travel time," she added.

Airport train ticket purchases can be made online through several channel options, such as the Railink Application, Web reservation, Traveloka, Bukalapak, and KAI Access as well as offline through vending machines and Point of Sales (POS) at each station.

PT Railink urges airplane passengers to pay attention to schedules and travel times to avoid possible delays.

The airport's train travel itinerary information can be accessed on www.railink.co.id or social media Instagram @kabandararailink, facebook @kabandararailink and twitter @RailinkARS.(ANTARA)

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD(ANTARA)

Indonesia will defend its sovereignty and will not negotiate with China in connection with the issues of Natuna waters, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said.

Referring to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the waters near the Natuna Islands belong to Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) rights so that this matter need not bilaterally be negotiated, he said here on Sunday.

Speaking to journalists after attending the commemoration of Brawijaya University's 57th anniversary, he said the Natuna waters definitely belongs to Indonesia so that a negotiation is not needed.

If the Indonesian Government puts this matter on the negotiation table, it means that Jakarta indirectly admits that there is a dispute between the two countries regarding the Natuna waters, he added.

Regarding the recent violations of Chinese coast guard vessels in the Indonesian EEZ near the Natuna waters, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has lodged a diplomatic protest by summoning China's ambassador in Jakarta.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has proposed the purchase of ocean going vessels to strengthen Indonesia's capability of safeguarding its territorial waters and EEZ rights from the violations of foreign ships.

"I have propose the purchase of these ocean going vessels. We have never possessed such  ships since the existence of this Republic," he told journalists following his meeting with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Friday.

Pandjaitan proposed the purchase of those ocean going ships amid the recent violations of Chinese coast guard vessels escorting tens of Chinese fishing boats to poach on Indonesia's EEZ near the Natuna waters on Dec 19 and Dec 24, 2019.

Pandjaitan further said the government has agreed to have more patrol vessels to secure the country's maritime boundary, and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is willing to purchase the 138 up to 140-meter-long frigates.

In response to this China's recent violations in the Indonesian EEZ, the University of Indonesia's international law expert, Hikmahanto Juwana, told ANTARA that Indonesia rejects China's claim of having traditional fishing rights on the North Natuna Sea.

According to Juwana, the Indonesian Government must have one voice in addressing this issue as represented by Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi. At the same time, the government need also intensify regular patrols on the North Natuna Sea, and enforce law against the violations of foreign vessels.

"Our intensive patrols are also aimed at protecting our fishermen's fishing boats from being disturbed by the Chinese coast guard vessels," he said, adding that a negotiation with China regarding the issues of North Natuna Sea is totally unnecessary.

Over these past three years, the Chinese coast guard vessels have repeatedly violated Indonesia's EEZ rights.

In March 2016, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi had also lodged a protest with the Chinese Charge d'affaires in Jakarta Sun Weide over Chinese coast guard violations in the Indonesian waters. (ANTARA)