Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto confirmed that schools in Wamena, Papua, will be reopened on Monday (Oct 7) following the restoration of security in the region.

"According to information, starting from Monday (Oct 7), schooling will return to normal in Wamena," Tjahjanto remarked after a ceremony to mark TNI’s 74th anniversary here on Saturday.

According to Tjahjanto, the local residents were apprehensive over schooling being interrupted following unrest in Wamena and were keen to witness normalcy restored in the learning process for children from elementary and high schools.

The military chief pointed out that Papuans were not in favor of non-Papuans leaving Wamena, Ilaga, and Oksibil.

"Several Papuans do not want non-Papuans to return to their hometowns. They (Papuans) want the non-Papuans to remain in Wamena, Oksibil, and Ilaga," he pointed out.

Tjahjanto reiterated that the TNI had deployed its forces to support the Indonesian Police in securing some regions in Papua, including Jayapura and Wamena.

"The aim is to lend confidence to people in Wamena, Ilaga, and Oksibil that we will continue to maintain security, so that economic activities will run smoothly," he stated.

The ceremony, enlivened by a plethora of attractions, military parade, and convoy of TNI's weaponry system, was attended by President Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and high-ranking officials comprising Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Chief of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) La Nyalla Mattalitti, Chief of the People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo, and Vice President-elect KH Ma'ruf Amin.

Attendees at the ceremony also comprised former presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as well as ex-vice presidents: Try Sutrisno, Hamzah Haz, and Boediono.  (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on soldiers of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to be capable enough to adopt and adapt to novel technology.

"The TNI soldiers, in future, must possess the capability to adopt and adapt to new technology and uphold strategic self-reliance in weaponry," the president noted in his message at the commemoration of the 74th anniversary of the Indonesian Military held at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta, on Saturday.

Jokowi also drew the attention of TNI soldiers to steer clear of egocentrism and work in close collaboration with all ministries and state institutions in national development.

"The TNI soldiers must uphold its fusion with civilians through public service operation and TNI's program to build villages," Jokowi stated.

Furthermore, the president was thankful to the Indonesian Military for its notable contribution to upholding the nation’s sovereignty and guarding its development. Happy anniversary TNI," Jokowi stated.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla; Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto; Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan; Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu; Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko; Military Commander Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto; Army Chief of Staff Gen. Andika Perkasa; Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Siwi Sukma Aji; and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Yuyu Sutisna were among the attendees at the commemorative event. (ANTARA)

The Skouw-Wutung border of Republic of Indonesia (RI) and Papua New Guinea (PNG) remained closed for public because of the security reason, as few days earlier,
gunfights occurred between Indonesia's armed forces and several armed separatists, an official said in Jayapura, Papua, Sunday.

The 172/Praja Wira Yhakti military post commander, Col. Inf. Binsar Sianipar, explained that the border had been temporarily closed on Sept 24, a day after a violent riot broke out in Wamena city, Jayawijaya District, Papua Province.

"In order to reopen the border, we must contact our counterpart in PNG," Sianipar remarked.

On Sept 23,  rioters burned shops and houses of settlers in Wamena. Therefore, some 10,000 people were displaced while schools and public activities got disrupted.

In a separate occasion, the Jayapura Immigration authority revealed that some of its officials were still assigned to guard the border despite the closure.

Under a normal condition, the RI-PNG border in Skouw District, Jayapura city, would be crossed by at least 100 people per day. "The figure would raise whenever the market nearby the border in Indonesia's area was opened.

Most PNG citizens whose homes are near the border will visit the Indonesian market in Skouw which is  situated around 300 meters from the neutral zone of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. (ANTARA)

State gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) through its subsidiary PT Gagas Energy is committed to turning compressed natural gas (CNG) into environmentally-friendly energy. "At the beginning, PGN cooperated with the Bandung city administration to make (the capital of West Java province) an environmentally-friendly energy-based smart city through the use of CNG," PT Gagas Energi Corporate Secretary Febrilian Hindarto said in a written statement released Saturday,

PT Gagas Energi is currently serving 10 commercial subscribers including fast food restaurants in Bandung that use CNG. The subscribers also comprise transportation modes including 100 units of taxis and 25 units of tractors.

"Some 150 vehicles currently use our CNG. We did not rule out the possibility of expanding our business to small and medium scale enterprises if they really need CNG fuel," he said.

In general, transportation modes use CNG because it is only sold at Rp4.500 per LSP, or cheaper than other fuels, he said.

The use of CNG helped the government reduce fuel subsidies and support the community to become self-reliant in using natural gas, he said.

PT Gagas Energi has set itself the target of raising the number of CNG subscribers at the end of this year. The increase will help the government cut fuel subsidies.

One of PT Gagas Energy's subscribers in Bandung that uses Gaslink is fast food restaurant McDonald.

Assistant manager of McDonald outlet at Soekarno Hatta Street in Bandung, Nana Herdiana, said McDonald at Soekarno-Hatta Street is the first to use Gaslink. (ANTARA)