VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Location of the West Nias earthquake. ANTARA/HO-BMKG - 

An earthquake of 7.2 magnitude rocked West Nias District, North Sumatra Province, on Friday, with the tremor being felt in several regions, including Gunungsitoli, North Nias, South Nias and Nias districts.

The quake was epicentered at 0.10 degrees north latitude and 96.53 degrees eastern longitude, and at a depth of 19 meters below sea level, according to data of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

"It shook quite strongly, and it was similar to a strong earthquake that devastated Nias Island 16 years ago," Kris, a resident of Gunungsitoli, remarked.

Kris recalled that when the earthquake hit, he was asleep on a chair, and suddenly it began shaking quite strongly and for a long time due to which he quickly got up and rushed out of the house while screaming "earthquake, earthquake ..."

Outside his house in Gunungsitoli, Kris recollected seeing his neighbors also flee their homes owing to the earthquake.

Yunus, another resident of Gunungsitoli, remarked that the powerful earthquake forced him to flee the home and look for his children playing outside

The earthquake did not trigger a subsequent tsunami.

Reports on damages in the form of casualties inflicted by the tremor were yet unavailable immediately//ANT

Indonesian migrant workers return home from Malaysia via the SBP Port Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (May 11, 2021). ANTARA/Ogen - 

The Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) has projected that some 5.3 million out of the nine million Indonesian migrant workers are illegal and unregistered.

"The remaining 3.7 million are legal and registered workers," BP2MI Head Benny Rhamdani stated when contacted from Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, on Friday.

Rhamdani remarked that the government will encounter difficulties in monitoring the condition of illegal migrant workers abroad since they are not registered and their work locations are also often unknown.

"Legal workers are protected by the government. It is difficult to keep tabs on illegal workers, barring the time when they submit report for their problems," Rhamdani explained.

Illegal migrant workers reel from problems, such as physical and sexual abuse, unpaid salaries, and the absence of a working contract.

The BP2MI head remarked that various forms of training will be imparted to legal workers to hone their skillsets and strengthen their language capability to communicate with their employers.

Legal workers are also registered in the Workers Insurance and Social Security (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) by paying a monthly premium of Rp13 thousand.

"Hence, be prepared if you want to work abroad. The government has ensured the safety and security of legal migrant workers," he emphasized.

Rhamdani noted that Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Middle East absorbed most of the Indonesian migrant workers.

The BP2MI head urged all stakeholders to synergize to boost the capacity and capability of migrant workers before their placement in destination countries.

The agency has also committed to cracking down on the syndicate of illegal migrant workers placement//ANT

Plaosan temple complex in Prambanan, Klaten District, Central Java. ANTARA PHOTO/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho/foc - 

PT Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko Tourism Parks company reopened the Prambanan Temple and Ratu Boko Palace during the Eid al-Fitr 2021 holiday period, as the two tourist destinations are located in the COVID-19 yellow zone.

"Based on latest data on the COVID-19 zoning map at the village level in Sleman District for the May 10-16 period, the Prambanan and Ratu Boko temples and the Ramayana Theater are in the yellow zone. This is the basis for PT TWC to continue serving the visiting tourists," the tourism parks' Marketing and Service Director, Hetty Herawati, stated here on Friday.

However, visiting tourists must apply strict health protocols in accordance with the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability (CHSE) certification standards set by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

"Our commitment to the community is to ensure that it is safe while visiting our tourist destinations. Of course, there are big consequences that TWC must take into account in order to achieve this. This requires 'awareness' and good cooperation from the community," she emphasized.

As part of the efforts to preserve World Heritage sites, the number of visitors has also been capped, supported by a registered visitor system through scanning a QR Code.

"The implementation of health protocols remains the main focus of TWC in providing services towards #tAMANcandiprambanan and #tAMAN ratuboko tourism," she affirmed.

TWC is a state-owned company tasked with managing park areas in three main destinations of the Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, and Ratu Boko Palace by ensuring safe and comfort to the visiting tourists.

The company has readied a special service strategy for tourists amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has launched a tour called #tAMAN Candi Prambanan and #tAMANratuboko, as a major campaign to edify the public on safely visiting the Prambanan Temple and Ratu Boko Palace amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To this end, the TWC has made various preparations in terms of the services, facilities, flow of visitors, and also human resources tasked in each destination," she stated//ANT

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi at a press conference while seeing off the dispatch of the equipment to India aboard a Garuda Indonesia aircraft at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, on Wednesday (May 12, 2021). ANTARA/screenshot-Aria Cindyara - 

The Indonesian government offered humanitarian aid to India through the provision of 200 oxygen concentrators to help it better handle the spread of COVID-19 in the country currently battered by the pandemic.

"The humanitarian aid sent comprises 200 oxygen concentrators," Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L. P. Marsudi stated at a press conference while seeing off the dispatch of the equipment to India aboard a Garuda Indonesia aircraft at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, on Wednesday.

Earlier, the government, in cooperation with Indonesian industry associations and relevant stakeholders, had dispatched 1,400 oxygen cylinders to India on May 10, 2021.

The minister affirmed that as an old and close ally as well as strategic partner, Indonesia had kept abreast of the developments of the pandemic situation in India and was ready to respond to urgent requirements for oxygen supplies to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in the south Asian country.

"This humanitarian aid aims to demonstrate solidarity of the people of Indonesia toward India. The assistance is expected to help India deal with the COVID-19 pandemic," she remarked.

Since the pandemic struck, Indonesia and India have worked hand-in-hand to battle the virus. The Indian government has facilitated the exports of raw materials for medicines required by Indonesia during that time. Both nations have also played crucial roles in supporting the vaccine procurement process through the multilateral COVAX facility.

In conversation with Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Manoj Kumar Bharti, also present at the occasion, the foreign minister expressed Indonesia’s gratitude to India for its support during the pandemic and that it was now Indonesia's turn to show its support.

"Indonesia stands with India in this difficult time, and we are committed to sharing this burden with the Indian people," she remarked//ANT