VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo at the State Palace, Jakarta on Wednesday (12/2) mentioned that a number of intolerance cases in some regions in Indonesia  must be resolved by the local governments. However, until now the local governments are assumed to be unable to overcome the intolerance problems. Therefore, the President has instructed Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security. Mahfud MD and the Head of  Indonesian  Police,  General Idham Azis, to immediately deal with the problems that occur both in Tanjung Balai Karimun and in North Minahasa.

 "I also just now ordered  Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Indonesian Police Chief, to guarantee the implementation of freedom of worship and to take firm action against groups or communities that intervene with their worships  based on  the constitutional guarantee I  stated. Do not let the intolerance exist. But the regional governments must be able to resolve the case, but I see  thereis no responce in the regions, so I ordered the Menkopolhukam, the Indonesian Police Chief that the cases  must be resolved, both related to the church in Karimun, in Tanjung Balai, and the mosque in North Minahasa, must be completed, because it becomes a bad precedent, which later can spread to other regions," President Joko Widodo said. 

Moreover, President Joko Widodo  emphasized that the constitution has guaranteed freedom for people to believe their  religions and beliefs. He said the constitution provides a legal umbrella for people to worship based on their religions and beliefs. (Ndy)

President Joko Widodo admitted that he had a conversation via telephone with President of  China,  Xi Jinping on Tuesday night (12/2). To journalists at the State Palace, Jakarta on  Wednesday (13/2), President Joko Widodo explained that in his conversation with President Xi Jinping, he conveyed condolences for the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. COVID-19 is a new virus named  by WHO (World Health Organization), a type of Corona Virus which is endemic to China. President Joko Widodo also expressed optimism that China will be able to overcome the COVID-19 problem in a short time. The President also explained that Indonesia is ready to provide assistance if needed by China.

"I had conversation on telephone with Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Firstly, I expressed condolences and sympathy to the victims of the corona virus in China.  Then, I said that Indonesia will always be with China in a difficult time like this. I also stated that Indonesia believes that China  can solve the corona virus problem quickly. That's  what I conveyed to President Xi Jinping," President Joko Widodo said.  

Previously, a number of media in China stated that  President Xi Jinping on Tuesday night (11/2) had communicated with President Joko Widodo. President Xi assured President Joko Widodo that China has won the war against COVID-19. Xi also expressed his appreciation for the attention given by the Indonesian government to China. He further said as a friendly country, Indonesia and China must walk hand in hand for progress. (Ndy)

Fears that the novel-Coronavirus may be spreading at a faster rate than previously estimated have arisen after a new diagnosis technique uncovered far more suspected cases since Tuesday.

According to CNA’s Beijing correspondent Olivia Siong, in their studio on Wednesday, Medical staff using CT scans in Hubei Province, China, say diagnoses of pneumonia and possible novel-Coronavirus cases have elevated sharply since Tuesday (11/02/2020), with up to 15,000 new infections discovered.

Following the outbreak in December 2019, the virus has infected an estimated 60,000 people and claimed the lives of 1,300. The increase in infections comes as a blow to the province, which has experienced shortages in medical supplies since transport lockdowns came into effect at the end of January and quarantining an unprecedented 50 million people in the province, according to The New York Times. The global infection rate sits at just above one per cent while the infection rate in Hubei hovers around four per cent, raising concern about the effectiveness of Chinese authority’s efforts to slow the spread.

Ms Siong explained the discontent within Mainland China over methods officials used to deal with the issue. The punishment of doctors who initially sounded the alarm of a “SARS-like” virus early on sparked anger among the Chinese people. Ms Siong said they believe authorities could have prevented the emergency sooner had they not ignored the doctor’s warnings.

"With the case of Dr Li, he was one of the first to sound the alarm of a SARS-like virus but if you recall, eight people in Wuhan were reprimanded for spreading so-called rumours and false information. And so many people feel that if they had been taken seriously, the situation may not have gotten to this stage that we are seeing today," Ms Siong told CNA. 

She mentioned the further fallout China was facing following the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. 160 million Chinese people’s travel has been disrupted following the Lunar NY break, alongside fears that China’s slowing economy, at its lowest point in 30 years, will be unable to recover from the losses they are feeling in tourism, trade, and labour-power. Many countries, including Indonesia have begun placing harsh travel restrictions and bans on Chinese citizens. (VOI/LAURA GREEN)

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mrs Lyudmila Vorobieva, at a press conference at her home in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/2), said she was optimistic about upcoming Indonesia-Russia defense dealings, which would include a navy force training program and 100 navy ships commissioned from Russia. The program, which was agreed amidst the two country’s 70^th anniversary celebrations of their relations, was signed off after meetings between Russian and Indonesian defense delegates.

“As I always say, Indonesia is our friend, and we want our friends to have the best. We produce all kind of equipment, any kind. Any kind of equipment Indonesia has, we can supply, but we respect the right of Indonesia to choose from who and what they buy,” the Ambassador said.

The countries have a long history of defense relations, with past deals centring around Indonesia’s arms purchases from Russia. Indonesia’s current efforts to improve their defense forces aim to safeguard their valuable territorial waters, such as the Malacca Strait, a major trade route in the Asia-Pacific under Indonesian administration. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva said she was excited for future deals between her country and Indonesia, particularly with furthering defense agreements alongside goods trading such as Indonesian palm oil imports to Russia.

“We just want to have cooperation that makes both of our countries stronger,” Ambassador Vorobieva said. (VOI/Laura Green)