Day: August 14, 2021

Posted on

Take advantage of Aceh peace to develop province: academic

Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) – Ar-Raniry Islamic State University’s Professor Yusni Sabi has advised the Aceh Provincial Government to maximize the realization of the terms of the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of 2005.

The MoU was signed to end the conflict between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), he said.

“We should maximize what we have achieved, and we should perfect what we are yet to achieve since the agreement established peace in Aceh,” Professor Sabi stated in Banda Aceh on Saturday.

He reminded all parties to be grateful for the unbroken peace in Aceh over the past 16 years since the signing of the agreement in Helsinki, Finland on August 15, 2005, officially ended the turbulent 30-year Aceh conflict.

“We need to remember that 30 years of conflict were painful and destructive for Aceh. Goals of our struggle have been secured by the terms of the peace agreement signed on August 15, 2005,” he remarked.

Professor Sabi said he was grateful to the central government for fulfilling the agreement terms by establishing Law No. 11 of 2006 on Aceh Governance (UUPA), ensuring broad autonomy for the province.

The Aceh government should observe the UUPA enforcement on all executive, legislative, and judiciary activities in provincial, district-, and city-level governments and ensure unity among Aceh officials, he added.

“The main point of peace in Aceh is to achieve prosperity for our people, and our leaders should assure this. We have no reason for more conflict at this time,” Sabi remarked.

He called Aceh leaders to unite and realize the peace terms set by the Helsinki MoU and the Aceh Governance Law to achieve Acehnese prosperity and well-being.

“The government should set their main goal to prioritize prosperity, livelihood, and well-being for the Aceh people,” he added.

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Minister highlights importance of women’s economic empowerment

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Minister Bintang Puspayoga has emphasized that women’s economic empowerment is central to achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women.

“Women’s economic powerlessness worsens the unequal power relations between women and men, making many women trapped in a cycle of violence and poverty,” the minister observed while joining the Indonesian Female Journalists Forum, held online, from here on Saturday.

Women’s economic empowerment will help women move up in power relations that have been unbalanced so far and contribute significantly to the welfare of the family and the nation, she said.

To ensure sustainable and competitive business in the future, the ministry is also paying special attention to the digital skills of women entrepreneurs, she informed.

Minister Puspayoga said that several sources have shown that women determine the birth of a quality next-generation.

Women’s leadership can also improve the economy and food security and even open up opportunities for current and future generations, she said, adding that equal and full participation of women and men is key to the welfare of a nation.

In the fight against COVID-19, the minister said women have been the backbone of the recovery process in the community, both socially and economically.

It is essential to jointly promote the importance of empowering women to achieve gender equality not only for women, but also for all levels of society, she added.

According to her, gender norms are not fixed. Still, the challenge that people face in achieving gender equality is the patriarchal culture that has been deeply rooted for centuries, she noted.

“Even so, I believe that nothing is impossible, especially if we work hard and work together,” the minister remarked.

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Constitutional amendment will not modify other articles: MPR Speaker

Jakarta (ANTARA) – A proposed limited amendment to the 1945 State Constitution will not open a Pandora’s box by encroaching on other articles of the Constitution, Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Bambang Soesatyo has stressed.

“I have affirmed with President Joko Widodo, in regard to Article 37 of the Constitution regulating the amendment, the proposed amendment would be kept at a minimum with other articles not amended,” Soesatyo said in a written statement received by ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday.

He made the assurance in response to concerns raised by members of the public that the proposed limited Constitutional amendment could open possibilities for changes in other parts of the Constitution, for instance, concerning the presidential term limit.

President Joko Widodo has denied the amendment would extend the presidential term limits from two terms to three, he pointed out.

He also noted that Article 37 of the Constitution strictly regulates Constitutional amendments. Any amendment needs to be proposed in writing by at least one-third MPR members — equal to a minimum of 237 MPs — and elucidate the proposed changes to Constitutional articles, he explained.

“With such a strict requirement, I assure you there would not be any Constitutional amendment other than the proposed revival of the state policy guidelines (GBHN). Other improbable amendment proposals such as to extend presidential term limits would not be entertained as the MPR never considers such proposals,” Soesatyo emphasized.

He confirmed that the proposed amendment would only change two articles in the Constitution — Article 3 to authorize the MPR to establish and amend the state policy guidelines and Article 23 to authorize the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to reject proposed state budgets if they conflict with the state policy guidelines.

“The amendment would be limited to the said two articles. No more articles would be amended,” Soesatyo assured.

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Journalists urged to support women’s empowerment, gender equality

Jakarta (ANTARA) – At the online seminar “76 Years of Independence, Have Indonesia’s Women Prospered?”, here Saturday, Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Bintang Puspayoga encouraged everyone, including journalists, to support women’s empowerment and gender equality. Journalists are the frontliners when it comes to disseminating public information which can plant various insights into the minds of people to erode patriarchal thoughts that have been deeply rooted within ourselves, she said.

“Women are the best advocates of their own problems, so Indonesia’s Women Journalists’ Forum, which represents women journalists in every region in Indonesia, can become a very strategic organization in voicing the importance of women’s empowerment and gender equality,” she asserted.

She hoped that Indonesia’s 76th Independence Day will be the platform to enliven the spirit of the nation’s unity to make it prosperous, developed, and resilient.

“Let us gather strength and aim for one collective goal of an equal world where women are strong, independent and capable for the prosperity of the Indonesian people,” Puspayoga remarked.

One of the goals of Indonesia is to guarantee protection, equality, and justice to all Indonesians without exception.

However, women still face discrimination, stigmatization, marginalization, and violence to this day, Puspayoga explained.

Therefore, the minister invited all parties to collaborate in raising women’s empowerment and child protection to advance Indonesia.

“Equality and justice for women and men become a very important goal to reach since it determines the quality of a nation’s human resources as a foundation for development,” she elaborated.

In addition, the PPPA has collaborated with various sectors to empower women economically through entrepreneurship, Puspayoga mentioned.

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Sports Minister sends-off Indonesian squad for Summer Paralympics

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali on Saturday has officiated a virtual send-off ceremony for Indonesia’s contingent for the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo.

“I, Zainudin Amali, the Minister of Youth and Sports, officiate the Indonesian contingent for the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo,” Amali said in a ceremony held virtually from the Youth and Sports Ministry office in Jakarta.

“I wish all athletes success, and may God bless our endeavor,” he remarked.

In his address, the minister encouraged athletes, who have earlier participated in international competitions and have undergone intensive training since October 2020, to put in their best efforts for the Paralympics.

“You have spent a long time preparing yourselves for the Paralympics. I admitted the pandemic might restrict your training, but all countries in the world experienced the same issue, therefore, you should not feel left behind by other athletes,” he remarked.

Amali described the Paralympic athletes as sports heroes and reminded them that they will be competing for Indonesia and not just representing their families or the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) at the Paralympics.

“As our sports hero, you should have an unyielding spirit to fight till the utmost of your ability. I believe your skill is the best in your respective fields,” the minister said.

At the ceremony, Indonesia Paralympic squad’s Chef de Mission, Andi Herman, said the nation’s contingent comprises 60 people, including 23 athletes from seven different fields who will be accompanied by 16 coaches and officials, six members of the Chef de Mission, eight members of the supporting team, and seven officials from the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo.

This will be the eleventh time Indonesia will participate in the Summer Paralympics. Since joining the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Montreal, Canada, Indonesia has only skipped the event once in 1992, when it was held in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain, he said.

Despite the pandemic, Indonesia had continued its preparations for the Paralympics by organizing training for athletes in Surakarta, Central Java from October 2020 until August 2021, he informed.

Besides the intensive training, the NPC had also encouraged athletes to participate in international competitions and test events to allow them to gain more experience and qualification points, he added.

This year’s Indonesian contingent is targeting to bag one gold and one silver medal in badminton, and three bronze medals each in para-powerlifting, table tennis, and para-athletics, Herman disclosed. The target is based on a thorough calculation and evaluation of athletes’ skills, he added.

“The Paralympics would help athletes to gain more experience, and we could assess competitors’ play to improve our training strategy for the next Paralympics when we get back home,” Herman remarked.

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Tokyo Paralympics: Indonesian contingent aiming for five medals

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s contingent is aiming to secure five medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Chef de Mission (CdM) of the Indonesia team Andi Herman said.

The calculation is based on an evaluation of each athlete’s prospects in each sports branch, he added.

During the virtual send-off event for the Indonesian contingent for the Tokyo Paralympics on Saturday, Herman said the Indonesian team is targeting to secure one gold, one silver, and three bronze medals as well as finish in the top 60 of the medal standings.

There are four sports branches in which the contingent can win a medal, he added.

Parabadminton is the main focus, with the team hoping to earn one gold and one silver medal each, Herman informed.

He also said that Indonesia has a shot at getting the bronze in powerlifting and table tennis adding, he was optimistic the contingent can reach its goal.

“Other than that, (the event will serve to) increase athletes’ experience and also to assess their opponents for evaluation material and athletes’ guidance strategy for the next Paralympics,” he remarked.

To reach the medal target, the National Paralympics Committee (NPC) Indonesia made thorough preparations, despite the challenges it faced implementing them amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Herman said.

For instance, national training was held in Solo, Central Java from October 2020 until August 2021, he added.

NPC Indonesia also sent the athletes to participate in international events to boost their performance and to collect points, he pointed out.

“We have also conducted tryouts abroad to increase athletes’ experience,” Herman remarked.

On account of the preparations, it is hoped the Indonesian contingent can achieve the projected target, he said.

“(We are aiming at) Not just fixing our ranking, but also to gather even more medals than the previous Paralympics (result) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016,” he asserted.

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Jakarta’s sports hall enshrine Greysia-Apriani names

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The names of Indonesian women’s doubles pairs of Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalists, Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu were enshrined in the sports hall in the Student Sports Training Center (PPOP) area, Ragunan, South Jakarta.

“Because they are athletes who were scouted in Jakarta by the Jaya Raya Badminton Association and they championed internationally, we wanted their name enshrined to boost motivation through generations,” Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said at PPOP Ragunan here, Saturday.

The sports hall was named Sasana Emas (Golden Training Arena) Greysia Apriani, after Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The building is located in the newly renovated sports facilities of the Jakarta Provincial Government, Baswedan pointed out.

The entire sports area complex had not been inaugurated, Bawedan added.

Nevertheless, he hoped that the enshrinement would inspire and motivate the younger generation who are currently training at PPOP while still pursuing formal education.

The building became a place to encourage the younger generation trainees to become athletes for several kinds of sports disciplines, he highlighted.

However, Polii said she did not expect her name to be engraved on one of the sports halls.

She also recalled her childhood while training at PPOP Ragunan to be in the top position as an Indonesian badminton player.

“Bonuses and appreciations are what every athlete can see and achieve, but to be able to put their names on a badminton hall, where I spent my childhood, is outstanding,” she remarked.

Similarly, Rahayu too was moved and did not expect her name to be enshrined in the sports hall.

“Honestly, I was very moved to see this building, which is named Sasana Emas Greysia Apriani,” she said.

Polii-Rahayu took the gold medal in the badminton women’s doubles upsetting China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan at the recently concluded 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In the final match, held at the Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, Greysia and Apriyani secured a 21-19, 21-15 win in 55 minutes, according to the official website of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Source: Antara News

Posted on

Four Indonesian athletes to race at BMX World Championships U-18

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Cycling Federation (PB ISSI) is sending four junior athletes to compete at the BMX World Championships U-18 in Papendal, the Netherlands, which will take place from August 17 to August 22, 2021.

The four athletes have been selected based on their junior world rankings — Aditya (8), Alfauzan (15), Jasmine Azzahra (6), and Amellya Nur Sifa (17), Indonesian Cycling Federation’s Secretary General Parama Nugroho disclosed at an online press conference here on Saturday.

The athletes will be accompanied by two coaches — former national team riders Toni Syarifudin and Ari Kristanto — and will leave for the Netherlands on Monday (August 16, 2021), he said.

Their participation in the World Championships in the Netherlands is expected to improve Indonesia’s BMX junior’s global ranking, which currently stands at fifth, Nugroho said.

Sending athletes to Europe has been considered very necessary because the Indonesian Cycling Federation cannot keep waiting and relying on championships in Asia and only within the country due to many cancellations of tournaments because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

“Their target at the BMX World Championship U-18 is to improve each individual’s world ranking and Indonesia’s position because it is highly effective as for almost 1.5 years of no race. It obviously will have a positive impact on the athletes’ rankings,” Nugroho observed.

“Furthermore, it is also meant to increase the racing experience of junior athletes who will, for the first time, ride on the BMX Supercross Circuit in Papendal, the Netherlands,” he added.

Meanwhile, daily chairman of Indonesian Cycling Federation, Inspector General of Police Wahyu Hadiningrat, advised the athletes to take care of their health while in the Netherlands and avoid being exposed to COVID-19.

“I would like to thank all athletes for their passion and dedication in participating in every training program. I remind the athletes to always be enthusiastic about the training process so that they can give their best performance in every competition,” Hadiningrat said in a written statement.

Source: Antara News

Proudly powered by WordPress