September 27, 2021 – Page 2 – Indonesia News Gazette

September 27, 2021

Vaccination coverage in Papua PON areas surpasses 60 percent

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed that the overall coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) areas had crossed 60 percent of the vaccination target.

While delivering a virtual press statement via the YouTube channel of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture on Monday afternoon, the health minister noted that in accordance with the regulation, sports competitions might be held in areas that had achieved the 60-percent coverage in terms of administering the first dose of vaccination.

Sadikin noted that the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination had been administered to 406,531 people, or some 62 percent of the total targeted 648,622 vaccination recipients spread across five areas where the XX PON is taking place in Papua.

“The first dose of vaccination has been administered to 253,474 people, or 39 percent (of the target population),” he stated.

The minister noted that vaccination coverage in Merauke District, Jayapura City, and Mimika District had surpassed the 60-percent figure, while vaccination coverage in Jayapura District had, so far, reached 57 percent, whereas vaccination coverage in Keerom District had only reached 54 percent of the target.

“Along with the TNI and Police, we are currently expediting (vaccinations) for Jayapura District and Keerom District to reach 60 percent,” he stated.

The minister has ensured that the COVID-19 vaccine supply for the first and second doses had arrived in Papua and was ready to be distributed.

The XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) 2021 will be held on October 2-15, 2021. At least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia are expected to participate in Papua’s PON National Games that will feature 37 events.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

Medical waste generation up 200% in Jakarta since June

The volume of hazardous and toxic waste or medical waste generated in Jakarta has jumped up to 200 percent since June this year when the second wave of COVID-19 cases hit the capital, the Jakarta Provincial Environment Office has reported.

The medical waste comprised used personal protective equipment, antigen PCR swab test results, and vaccination waste, it said.

“It could increase up to more than 200 percent from hospitals alone since some of the hospitals were specially designed to handle COVID-19 cases,” head of the hazardous and toxic waste management section of the Jakarta Provincial Environment Office, Rosa Ambarsari, said in Jakarta on Monday.

According to Ambarsari, the increase in medical waste resulted from the influx of patients in hospitals and isolation centers when the second wave of COVID-19 cases hit Jakarta in June.

The volume of vaccination waste, such as syringes, also increased as the Jakarta provincial government intensified the mass vaccination program, she said.

The environment office had to work hard to handle a surge in medical waste which came not only from hospitals but also public health service posts, she added.

“At the beginning, we were not too well prepared to handle the waste, which came from isolation centers and households by sudden,” she said.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

Preparing healthcare workers, volunteers for COVID-19 spikes: ministry

Despite the recent decline in cases of COVID-19, the Health Ministry is preparing healthcare workers and volunteers to anticipate and mitigate the possibility of spikes in cases in the future.

“We have indeed prepared (healthcare workers and volunteers) for a period of many holidays/off days because (in our) past experience, during a long holiday, there was a spike in (COVID-19) cases,” acting head of the Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency of the Health Ministry, Kirana Pritasari, said at a virtual press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

The government is currently collecting data on human resources at all healthcare facilities and the number of patients undergoing treatment to determine the number of health workers and volunteers who will need to be prepared to anticipate a possible infection spike, she informed.

“Assessments are being conducted in all healthcare facilities that recruit volunteers so that we can really get (an idea of the) current condition of human resources and the number of patients being treated,” Pritasari elaborated.

Even though the number of volunteers handling COVID-19 has been reduced, hospitals, under the Health Ministry’s supervision, are still preparing healthcare workers to deal with the possibility of more COVID-19 patients, she added.

Healthcare workers and volunteers have also been stationed at the Kemayoran Athlete’s Village COVID-19 Emergency Hospital, she said.

The Health Ministry is coordinating with the Jakarta Health Office and the authorities in surrounding areas for dispatching health workers and volunteers to the Athlete’s Village hospital, she informed.

“So that if there is an increase in cases, we will not experience difficulties like in the past,” she said.

The ministry has recruited more than seven thousand to improve COVID-19 handling, she informed. Currently, there are around 4,300 volunteers on active duty, she said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Health Services Division of the National Defense Force’s Health Center Colonel Dr. RM Tjahja Nurrobi said that the number of officers who will be stationed at the Kemayoran Athlete’s Village COVID-19 Emergency Hospital has been calculated.

“Our calculations are, at least, at the end of the year, we can still have approximately 1,500 (officers), if approved by the Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency of the Health Ministry later,” he disclosed.

“If there are spikes (in cases), we can prepare these 1,500 people while waiting for reinforcements from the Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency to gather volunteers who have become partners of the Human Resources Development and Empowerment Agency and Kemayoran Athlete’s Village COVID-19 Emergency Hospital,” Nurrobi added.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

KPPPA must work to eradicate domestic violence more actively: LBH APIK

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) should be more active in eradicating domestic violence, an official with the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Women’s Association for Justice (LBH APIK) Ratna Batara Munti has said.

“The government, in this case, the KPPPA, should be more active as it was mandated in the Domestic Violence Eradication Law Article 11 to 14,” she said at a webinar entitled ‘Breaking the Chain of Violence and Recover the Victim’, which was streamed on the YouTube account of the National Commission on Anti-Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) on Monday.

By getting more involved in the eradication of domestic violence, the ministry would show its commitment to protecting women and children—groups that are most vulnerable toward domestic violence, she opined.

“For example, the ministry could formulate more implementable policies so that the implementation of the Domestic Violence Eradication Law in the public can be more optimal,” she said.

According to Munti, one such policy is issuing a standard operational procedure (SOP) concerning the implementation of the Domestic Violence Eradication Law.

By issuing this SOP, law enforcement officers would have a guideline for following up on reports pertaining to domestic violence cases, she explained.

“The association has designed the SOPs and we have sent them directly to the PPPA (Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection) Minister,” she informed.

In addition, Munti suggested that the ministry hold gender-sensitive education and training on the issue of domestic violence, especially for law enforcement officers and other service providers.

While the Domestic Violence Eradication Law is not designed to specifically protect women, the philosophy behind the law clearly considers women as a group that is vulnerable to domestic violence due to unequal gender relations between men and women, she said.

Hence, law enforcement authorities and service providers connected to domestic violence require gender-sensitive training, she added.

“This is our collective commitment, especially the state who is the most responsible in ensuring the implementation of this law in order to fulfill its goal of providing protection and prevention,” Munti expounded.

During the webinar, the National Commission on Anti-Violence against Women also revealed that the revocation of reports concerning domestic violence by victims is the biggest hurdle in the implementation of the Domestic Violence Eradication Law.

This is attributed to a cycle in which the perpetrator apologizes to the victim and promises to not repeat the act, but continues to do so, as well as other factors such as financial conditions, marital relations, and the condition of children, it added.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

West Nusa Tenggara ready to host WSBK championship: Governor

Governor Zulkieflimansyah has voiced West Nusa Tenggara’s readiness to host the 2021 Superbike World Championship (WSBK) on Nov 19-21 at the Mandalika International Street Circuit.

The governor detailed the province’s preparations for the international event during a coordination meeting with officials of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Central Lombok, Sunday (Sept 26).

He stated that the province’s vaccination coverage had reached 40 percent, with the Central Lombok region expected to reach a 70-percent rate this week, increasing by 20 percent from the earlier period.

The province will see its vaccination rate continue to increase, as the local authority accelerates vaccination efforts in the region and reports the results to the central government, he added. Apart from expediting vaccination, the province has currently also readied the airport, Mandalika Bypass road, and regional hospital to host the competition’s participants.

The province’s authority is optimistic that preparations would be completed on time before the race begins in November, the governor stated.

Meanwhile, Central Lombok Regional Secretary L. Firman Wijaya ensured the regional authority’s support to the Superbike World Championship, albeit reminding the competition organizer to allocate space for Central Lombok’s MSMEs.

“The international competition would bring great economic potential to the region, and we should ensure the local residents would play a greater role than merely a match spectator,” Wijaya stated. The organizer should arrange a bubble travel system to ensure the safety of the participants and officials during the competition, the regional secretary stated.

The Central Lombok authority has prepared a landfill to accommodate waste from the Mandalika circuit and the special economic zone encompassing the circuit, he added.

The final round of the Superbike World Championship race is scheduled on November 19-21, 2021. The organizer had earlier set the race date on November 12-14, but factors pertaining to logistics and equipment delivery caused them to push the date ahead for a week.

The one-week delay allows the organizer to make more thorough preparations for the race, as they are required to make arrangements to handle the race spectators’ movements, participants’ accommodation, and health protocol enforcement during the event.

Apart from hosting the WSBK Championship, the Mandalika Circuit has been granted a slot to host the MotoGP pre-season race on February 11-13, 2022, which takes place a week after the first pre-season race in Sepang Circuit, Selangor, Malaysia.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

Papua PON torch relay starts in Sorong, West Papua

The flame for the XX Papua National Games (PON) torch relay has departed from Sorong, West Papua, to five customary areas in Papua, on Monday.

The release of the PON flame was conducted by Deputy Governor of West Papua Mohamad Lakotani along with Assistant for the Economy and People’s Welfare of the Papua Regional Secretary Muhammad Musa’ad and attendees comprising District Head of Sorong, Johny Kamuru, and General Secretary of PB PON Papua, Elia Loupatty.

As cited from the official website of the XX Papua PON organizing committee (PB PON), the flame was received by Papua’s former football athletes — Ronny Wabia and Ortizan Solossa — and then shipped to Biak, Biak District, Papua, through the Domine Eduard Osok International Airport to continue the relay.

“This is a new (page in) history and such an honor for us, the residents of West Papua. I would like to convey my congratulations and good luck to the PON torch relay committee that will bring the PON flame to the venue in Jayapura, Papua,” Lakotani noted.

Ceremony for the flame’s departure was held in the courtyard of the Sorong District Head’s office after the flame was earlier brought from Maladuk, Klamono, Sorong District, West Papua.

The flame was brought from a location at the Klamono Field Gas Engine Power Plant, PT. Pertamina EP. Cepu Regional 4 Zone 14 Field Papua.

The location was chosen since the first exploration in the Sorong area was conducted in Klamono, with a long-standing history of oil discoveries in the 19th century Dutch East Indies.

Furthermore, the eternal flame of Papua PON will pass through five customary areas in Papua for six consecutive days, from September 27 to October 2 before it reach the .Lukas Enambe Stadium.

The five areas comprise Biak (Saireri), Timika (Mee Pago), Wamena (La Pago), Merauke (Ha Anim), and Jayapura District and Jayapura City (Mamta/Tabi).

“We are optimistic that the PON torch relay would be held safely and smoothly and complete the journey on October 2, 2021, at the Lukas Enembe Stadium in Jayapura District, which will then be prepared for the cauldron lighting at the Papua PON ceremony,” Muhammad Musa’ad stated.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

Police confirms Yahukimo-based Papuan terrorist group leader dead

Senaf Soll, alias Ananias Yaluka, who joined an armed Papuan separatist terrorist group in Yahukimo District, Papua Province, died at around 10:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, according to a police officer.

Director of the Papua Police Criminal Investigation Department Senior Commissioner Faizal Rahmadani confirmed Soll’s death on Monday morning.

“A report of his death is reliable. The Yahukimo police precinct handles the deceased, and it is not known yet where the deceased will be buried,” he told ANTARA in Jayapura, the capital of Papua Province.

Known as one of the leaders of the armed group operating in Dekai, Yahukimo District, Soll died following intensive medical treatment at the Bhayangkara Police Hospital.

Soll, who left the Indonesian Army to join the armed group, was apprehended by the Nemangkawi Task Force at the Dekai-based West Papua National Committee (KNPB) office on September 1, 2021.

Soll was fired from the army in 2019 after the Jayapura military court found him guilty of involvement in an illegal trade of firearms and ammunition in Mimika District, Papua Province. Prior to his dismissal, Soll was a 2nd private soldier of the 754/ENK Infantry Battalion. After joining the armed separatist terrorist group, Soll was involved in a series of criminal offenses.

Soll’s criminal records indicate his involvement in setting ablaze an automatic teller machine of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and killing two innocent civilians: Hendry Jovinsky and Muhammad Toyib.

His notorious armed group had also gotten involved in several deadly assaults on army personnel.

Papua has been reeling from armed violence over the past few years.

On August 22, 2021, the Tenius Gwijangge-led terrorist group launched a deadly attack on several construction workers of PT Indo Mulia Baru involved in erecting a bridge over Brazza River in Yahukimo.

Two workers, identified as Rionaldo Ratu Roma and Dedi Imam Pamungkas, died in the attack.

The attackers also set ablaze their bodies and a pick-up truck, according to Faisal Rahmadani.

Members of the terrorist group also attacked several personnel from the Indonesian Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit when they went to the site of the shooting to retrieve the bodies of the deceased workers, he had stated earlier.

Source: Antara News

September 27, 2021

Indonesian student executive board sets anti-corruption as key agenda

The Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) drew attention to anti-corruption as its main agenda during its national working meeting.

“We will finalize it in the agenda of the BEM SI’s national working meeting being organized in Yogyakarta this afternoon,” BEM SI’s Central Coordinator Wahyu Suryono Pratama noted in a written statement on Monday.

The BEM SI is firmly siding with the people and upholding scientific truth, according to Pratama.

“The BEM SI Alliance remains consistent in adhering to the scientific truth and siding with the interests of the people. Our alliance strives to look at the corruption issue in a holistic and comprehensive manner,” Pratama, a student of the State University of Semarang, remarked.

He emphasized that BEM SI condemns all forms of corruption by officials, especially during the ongoing pandemic. He appealed to every law enforcer to take serious steps in tackling cases of corruption.

“We also urge all law enforcement officials to take serious steps in resolving corruption cases both at the regional and central levels,” he remarked.

The BEM SI’s spokesman noted that technically, his organization was preparing several steps along with other elements pertaining to the anti-corruption campaign.

The fight against corruption is a common task to achieve the nation’s ideals, he stated.

“This anti-corruption fight is a common obligation to achieve the national ideals of the Indonesian nation,” he affirmed.

The meeting was attended by representatives of 180 universities from across Indonesia.

The BEM SI alliance plans to stage a rally in front of the building of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to protest the dismissal of 57 KPK employees, including senior investigators, on Monday afternoon.

Source: Antara News