VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Chair of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Mokhammad Najih (center), received a visit from the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS) at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday (February 27, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Ombudsman RI) -

Voinews, Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chair of the Indonesian Ombudsman, Mokhammad Najih, has said that it will boost cooperation in the Southeast Asian region to share experiences with other institutions to expand the functions and tasks of the ombudsman.

He made the statement as Malaysia's Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit (UNIONS) paid a visit to the office of the Indonesian Ombudsman in Jakarta on Tuesday. He emphasized that the visit would play an important role in expanding the scope of regional cooperation.

“Ahead of its 25th anniversary in 2025, the Indonesian Ombudsman wants to expand cooperation in the Southeast Asian region,” he said, according to an official statement released by the Indonesian Ombudsman here on Tuesday.

The delegation of UNIONS, led by Dato' Murshid Diraja Dr. Juanda Jaya, who is also deputy minister in the Premier’s Department of Sarawak (Integrity and Ombudsman), paid a visit to the office of the Indonesian Ombudsman to carry out benchmarking.

In his remarks, Najih welcomed the delegation and gave a brief description of the Indonesian Ombudsman, including its tasks, functions, background, and organizational structure.

“Hopefully, this visit can create good relations going forward between these two institutions,” he said.

Jaya informed that UNIONS sought a deeper understanding of how the Indonesian Ombudsman plays a role in fighting negative situations, especially in relation to public services. The Indonesian Ombudsman has been deemed abenchmark since Indonesia and the Kingdom of Sarawak have similar backgrounds and social conditions, he said.

Another purpose of the UNIONS’ visit was to study and understand the organizational structure and governance of the Ombudsman in Indonesia, according to him. Jaya expressed his appreciation to Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Timor Leste for creating the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum (SEAOF). He also said that the Kingdom of Sarawak wants to join the forum and get involved in existing programs//ANTARA-VOI

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi speaking at the High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (February 26, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-akun X @Menlu_RI) - 

Voinews, Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, as president of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), highlighted the need to strengthen the commitment to global disarmament at the High-Level Segment of the CD in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday (February 26).

At the conference, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi urged countries possessing nuclear weapons to fulfill their obligations, including those stipulated in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

"I conveyed that Indonesia has ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and is ready to push for its universalization," she noted in a written statement from her ministry.

Marsudi explained that Indonesia, along with ASEAN countries, continues to push for the prompt signing of the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (SEANWFZ) protocol by permanent members of the UN Security Council.

In the forum, the minister also encouraged countries to make progress in disarmament, both on the procedural and substantive sides.

"The main focus should be on issues that have reached an agreement, such as Negative Security Assurances that are legally binding and the fossil material cut-off treaty," she remarked.

Furthermore, she highlighted the need for cooperation in responding to new challenges in security.

She opined that the CD must be adaptive and responsive to the changing security landscape, including the emergence of new technologies in the weapons systems and modern warfare, as well as realizing a treaty to prevent an arms race in outer space.

"At the end of my statement, I expressed my condemnation against the discourse on Israel's use of nuclear weapons to threaten the people of Gaza. I also urged a halt to arms shipments to Israel to prevent further loss of life," she remarked.

She expressed regret over the failure to reach an agreement on Palestine's application to become an observer in the conference.

The CD, which comprises 65 member states including the permanent members of the UN Security Council, is a multilateral negotiation forum that discusses disarmament efforts.

At the meeting, chaired by the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UN in Geneva Febrian A. Ruddyard, Marsudi also emphasized the importance of overcoming the deadlock currently faced by the conference.

"As the president, Indonesia is committed to encouraging transparency, balance, and constructive dialogues," she affirmed//ANTARA-VOI

Archive; Indonesian foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi during a press confrence in AMM 2023 (Photo: NK-VOI) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi pointed out that Indonesia has ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and is ready to push for its universalization. This was said by  Minister  Retno Marsudi while  attending the High-Level Segment Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday (26/2).  During the meeting,  according to Minister Retno,  Indonesia urges countries which possess nuclear weapons to fulfill their obligations, including those stipulated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“There is a need to strengthen commitment to global disarmament. I convey that Indonesia has ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and is ready to push for its universalization.  Indonesia urges nuclear weapons states to fulfill their obligations, including those stipulated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi revealed that Indonesia and ASEAN countries continuously encourage the signing of the SEANWFZ Protocol (Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Area Treaty) by permanent member countries of the UN Security Council or P5.  Conference on Disarmament is the only multilateral negotiation forum that discusses disarmament efforts and weapons. This forum consists of 65 countries including permanent members of the UN Security Council or P5.  The meeting was chaired by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva as President of the Conference on Disarmament, Febrian A. Ruddyard///(Kemlu-Ranov-Mar) / Trans : AF

Smoke from bushfires rises north of Beaufort, near Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, Feb 24, 2024. (Photo: AAP Image/David Crosling/Pool/via REUTERS) - 

Voinews, Sydney - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged on Sunday (Feb 25) to provide whatever support was needed to assist Victoria state in a days-long wildfire emergency that has razed homes after authorities warned extreme heat could fan the blazes this week.

"We will provide whatever support is requested from Victoria," Albanese told reporters in the city of Frankston, Victoria, according to a transcript.

"It's a reminder of the need for us to be vigilant for us to continue to work and act on the threat that is climate change."

The emergency has killed livestock, destroyed six homes and forced more than 2,000 people to leave western towns and head to the city of Ballarat, 95km west of the state capital, Melbourne.

Australia is in the grips of an El Nino weather pattern, which is typically associated with extreme phenomena such as wildfires, cyclones and droughts.

More than 15 bushfires were burning in Victoria on Sunday, with the most serious blaze, ranked at the second highest danger rating, near several remote towns, according to the state's emergency authority.

State authorities have said there are concerns about the weather this week particularly Wednesday into Thursday when extreme heat is forecast that could further fan the fires.

Around 1,000 firefighters supported by more than 50 aircraft have battled the fires since they started.

The last two bushfire seasons in Australia have been subdued compared with the 2019-2020 "Black Summer", when bushfires destroyed an area the size of Turkey, killing 33 people and 3 billion animals//CNA-VOI