VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A vaccination campaign in Jakarta on April 10, 2021. The Indonesian government is targeting to inoculate 40,349,049 people under the nationwide vaccination program. (ANTARA/Kebayoran Lama Police Hq) - 

The number of COVID-19 vaccine recipients increased by 95,060 on Saturday (April 17, 2021) to reach 10,801,244, according to data from the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.

Of the total 10,801,244 recipients, 5,889,716 received their second vaccine dose, reflecting an increase of 69,770 in a single day.

Currently, the government is targeting to inoculate 40,349,049 people under the nationwide vaccination program.

Those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine so far include healthcare workers, state officials, public service officials, elderly citizens (seniors), government employees, teachers, lecturers, market traders, journalists, and religious leaders.

Despite the vaccination, they are being urged to remain disciplined in implementing the health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission.The health protocol measures include wearing masks, washing hands with soap and running water, maintaining a safe distance, avoiding crowds, and reducing mobility.

Indonesia has so far relied on the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China's Sinovac and some AstraZeneca vaccines received through the COVAX Facility, coordinated by the World Health Organization, for its vaccine program.

On April 17, 2021, the number of active coronavirus cases recorded in the country in a single day declined by 1,054 to reach 106,243 cases.Meanwhile, 5,963 people recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total recoveries to 1,450,192.

Indonesia also added 5,041 confirmed cases, bringing the tally to 1,599,763. Meanwhile, 132 more people succumbed to the virus, bringing the total death toll to 43,328.//ANT

The logo for the 66th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chosen ‘Humanity and Solidarity’ as the theme for this year’s commemoration. (Handout-Indonesian MoFA) - 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has chosen ‘Humanity and Solidarity’ as the theme for the 66th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference this year.

The spirit of humanity and solidarity of Asian and African nations is reflected in the commemorative logo of the 66th anniversary celebrations, with the tightly entwined hands of the number 66 serving to impress the two continents to make efforts towards creating a better world, according to the ministry.

The red color in the logo represents Asia, while the green represents Africa, and the white background represents the rest of the world.The symbolism of the logo is in accordance with the original purpose of the conference, which was to improve solidarity between Asian and African nations by increasing economic and cultural cooperation, as well as efforts to fight all forms of colonialism, imperialism, and racism, the ministry stated.

The Asia-Africa Conference also aims to promote human rights and advance world peace and international cooperation.

The similarity of fate and the spirit of solidarity that inspired the first Asia-Africa Conference 66 years ago have again become relevant now when countries around the world are in the middle of a test to unite in the collective struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic."If we look closely, there are many similarities between the conditions in 1955 and those we are facing today. The gap between developed and developing countries is getting bigger, racial and cultural sentiments continue to fuel conflict, and the major powers are still using their power for their own interests," director of multilateral cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Febrian A. Ruddyard, told ANTARA.

The current gap between developed and developing countries is evident from the fact that some countries still have unequal access to COVID-19 vaccines. Citing Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Ruddyard said: "Nearly one in four people in high-income countries have been vaccinated, while in low-income countries, only one in 500 have been vaccinated."

Furthermore, given the current global conditions, where people are very interconnected and tend to depend on this interconnectivity, the problem of handling the global pandemic cannot be viewed as a compartmentalized issue in each country. 

The 66th commemoration With the Asia-Africa Conference, which is held on April 18 this year, taking place in the midst of pandemic efforts, it is time for all member countries of the conference to direct themselves to revive the spirit of humanity and solidarity mandated in the Ten Principles of Bandung//ANT

Vice Governor of Papua Klemen Tinal (center). ANTARA/Hendrina Dian Kandipi/am - 

Papua Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal has urged native Papuans in Beoga to assist the authorities' efforts to evacuate non-natives who get terrorized by armed Papuan criminals operating in the sub-district's areas.

"The evacuation of non-natives who generally work as teachers and paramedics in Beoga is so important for their safety. Native Papuans are encouraged to assist the evacuation efforts," he said in a statement that ANTARA quoted here Saturday.

Tinal said local security personnel have evacuated some 40 non-natives from Beoga for safety reasons following the fatal shootings of two teachers in Julukoma Village last week.

He said the killings of the two teachers were not justifiable and acceptable on any ground because they had struggled for making Papua's children to get educated.

In fact, the introduction of formal education is a bit late compared to religious education in Beoga.

Therefore, Tinal appeals to all people not to disrupt the formal education by killing teachers so that local children can still receive education to make them literate.Papua Province has borne witness to a string of violent attacks by notorious armed Papuan criminals targeting civilians and security personnel in the past two years.

On April 8, 2021, several armed Papuan criminals opened fire at a kiosk in Julukoma Village, Beoga Sub-district, at about 9:30 a.m. local time.

The shooting incident resulted in the death of a Beoga public elementary school teacher, Oktovianus Rayo.

After killing Rayo, the armed attackers continued their acts of terror by torching three classrooms of the Beoga public senior high school.

On Friday (April 9), the armed Papuan criminals again assaulted another teacher, Yonatan Randen. This junior high school teacher was shot on his chest.

Several villagers attempted to save Randen's life by moving him to the Beoga public health center, but he died.

On Sunday evening (April 11), the armed criminals set ablaze nine classrooms of the Beoga public junior high school.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mathius D. Fakhiri has vowed to trace and crack down on the killers of these two teachers.

"The TNI (Indonesian military) and police personnel will never retreat even a single step in enforcing the law against the killers," Fakhiri stated in Timika on Tuesday.

Fakhiri emphasized that the law enforcement units will make persistent efforts to trace and crack down on the killers of the two teachers//ANT

Since the Macau-Hong Kong route’s closure last year, the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong has repatriated 557 Indonesian citizens. (ANTARA/KJRI-Hong Kong) - 

At least 93 Indonesian migrant workers were repatriated by authorities in Macau, China through the Hong Kong International Airport from April 8-15, 2021, the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong informed on Saturday.

In a press statement, the consulate general said it assisted in the repatriation of the Indonesian workers.

Repatriation was the only way to send the workers home owing to the absence of direct flights from Macau to several Indonesian cities amid the COVID-19 situation, it explained.

In addition to the absence of direct flights, all foreigners coming to Hong Kong are required to undergo quarantine, the consulate general said.Since the enforcement of the Macau-Hong Kong route closure last year, the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong has repatriated 557 Indonesian citizens.

There are around five thousand Indonesian migrant workers in the Chinese territory of Macau. Most of them are employed in the informal sector and the hotel industry//ANT