Day: October 11, 2021

On October 5 this year, the Indonesian National Defense Force (TNI) celebrated its 76th anniversary, just a few months apart from the anniversary of the Proclamation of Indonesian independence.

On October 5, 1945, the TNI was born with the background of the People’s Security Army (TKR). The TNI — with the strength of its three forces — the army, navy, and air force — has guarded the long history of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

This year, the commemoration of the 76th anniversary of the TNI bears the theme “Bersatu, Berjuang Kita Pasti Menang” (United, Fighting, We will win).

This theme truly aligns with the history of the TNI that has always stood united with the people and fought to always safeguard Indonesia’s independence.

In commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Indonesian Military, TNI Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto urged all TNI soldiers to continue to boost professionalism and unity with the people.

He affirmed that the professionalism and dedication of TNI showcase its loyalty to the Indonesian nation and state.

“TNI’s loyalty has also been manifested in carrying out the task of dealing with increasingly complex threats,” Tjahjanto affirmed.

Roles amid pandemic

In fact, such loyalty is also mirrored through the role of TNI soldiers in handling the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first role fulfilled by TNI at the onset of handling COVID-19 cases was to evacuate hundreds of Indonesian citizens in Wuhan, China, where the first COVID-19 cases were reported.

The Indonesian Air Force, with all of its equipment, worked to evacuate the Indonesian people to return to Indonesia from China.

When they arrived in Indonesia, TNI soldiers were still guarding the evacuated Indonesian citizens to Natuna Island, Riau Islands. The Navy base in the island was used as a place of isolation to ensure the safety of those evacuated Indonesians before they meet their families.

In the midst of the pandemic, the TNI continues to fulfil its duties of caring for hundreds of Indonesian ship crew members — who returned from abroad — to undergo COVID-19 isolation on Sebaru Kecil Island, Seribu Islands in Jakarta Province.

At that time, the Navy soldiers worked to ensure that all processes ran in accordance with the standard operating procedures of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Furthermore, TNI soldiers worked to provide more hospital beds and quarantine places amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the capital city.

At that time, TNI soldiers had mobilized their resources to ensure the readiness to use the Kemayoran Athlete House as an isolation location for thousands of COVID-19 patients in Jakarta.

Moreover, the TNI has synergized with the National Police to continue to ensure the implementation of strict health protocols in the community.

To further control the coronavirus disease outbreak, the TNI also plays a role in the distribution and delivery of COVID vaccines to all citizens throughout Indonesia.

President Joko Widodo has indeed mandated the TNI and Polri to make the national COVID-19 vaccination program a success.

Thus, the TNI, with all its resources, has participated to ensure the success of the national vaccination program.

The TNI has conducted vaccinations in 803 hospitals and health facilities throughout Indonesia. The TNI has also conducted mobile vaccinations by collaborating with several private parties and handed over 10,867 TNI personnel as vaccinators.

Moreover, a division of tasks is conducted for the ranks of the TNI — the navy, air force, and army — so that implementation and acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination can run well and do not overlap.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) have ramped up efforts to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination in agglomeration regions and other areas in order to achieve herd immunity in Indonesia at the earliest in accordance with Vice President Ma’ruf Amin’s request.

The Indonesian Navy, for instance, has been tasked with intensifying vaccinations for maritime and coastal communities in Indonesia in order to attain herd immunity against COVID-19.

“The government expects the TNI and Polri to continue to help to increase the acceleration of inoculation in regions, including in agglomeration areas, where the vaccination achievement was still low,” Vice President Amin stated.

The vice president also praised members of the TNI and Polri, who had played a role in the COVID-19 vaccination acceleration program.

Appreciation

Various efforts and roles of the TNI in helping to deal with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic have drawn praises from several parties, including the president.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) conveyed that the country’s tenacity in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be separated from some important roles played by the TNI in every assignment, both individually and in units.

“Our success in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be separated from the great role of the TNI … the Indonesian soldiers, who always show professionalism in every assignment,” Jokowi stated during the commemoration ceremony of the 76th TNI Anniversary in the front yard of the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (October 5).

Some members of the parliament also lauded TNI’s role.

Committee I of the House of Representatives (DPR) lauded the National Defense Force for the myriad valuable steps it took for the benefit of the public, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“We have monitored all steps that the TNI (had taken) since the onset of the pandemic in Indonesia, and so far, the results have been very positive and satisfying,” according to Christina Aryani, member of the House’s Committee I.

Aryani noted that the actions ranged from enforcing health protocols and overseeing the distribution of basic necessities along with regional governments to vaccination activities.

“Effectiveness of the TNI’s work is very helpful for the public in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic situation,” she affirmed.

The Indonesian military’s active participation had also been well-received by the people, as was demonstrated in the level of public satisfaction with the TNI’s efforts that had reached up to 95.5 percent. This figure is better than several other state agencies, she remarked.

Public surveys indicated a very high level of satisfaction pertaining to the military’s performance in controlling the pandemic in each region.

“All of this should be lauded and will certainly be a special gift for the TNI on its 76th anniversary,” Aryani remarked.

Despite its roles and achievements pertaining to the pandemic-handling efforts, the National Defense Force will certainly still have to face several varied challenges ahead.

TNI Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto drew attention to several challenging tasks in future that the Indonesian Military still has to face, including guarding Indonesia’s borders of the foremost islands, forests and mountains, oceans and air space; enforcing state sovereignty; maintaining the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia; and protecting the entire Indonesian nation.

To this end, he expressed optimism that all TNI personnel would become more professional and loyal to fight together in facing various future challenges.

“United, fight, we will definitely win. Fight for stronger Indonesia, for growing Indonesia. Long live Indonesian Military!” Tjahjanto noted.

Source: Antara News

Studies have shown that the effectiveness of the death penalty in deterring drug offenders and terrorists has not yet been proven, chief of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Ahmad Taufan Damanik has said.

In a press conference that was broadcast live on the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) YouTube channel on Monday, Taufan noted that groups that support the implementation of the death penalty have argued that it will serve as a deterrent and thus, it will be effective in eradicating certain crimes.

However, terrorists seek death since it is something that they choose when they embark on a mission mandated by the masterminds behind their actions, he opined.

“Terrorists are, in fact, grateful for the death penalty. Because of this, giving the death penalty to terrorists is not effective,” he said.

To this end, Komnas HAM will effectively push for the abolishment of the death penalty from Indonesia’s legal system, starting by limiting the types of crimes that attract the death penalty, he informed.

“For Komnas HAM, the death penalty is unacceptable and it should be abolished,” Damanik asserted.

He highlighted that in efforts to abolish the death penalty, the commission has encountered challenges from various groups, such as social and political groups, who still consider the penalty important.

Indonesia should review the existing national law and practices so that they ensure careful legal procedure as well as protection to suspects facing the death penalty, in accordance with the UN’s resolution, he emphasized.

“Furthermore, Indonesia should apply a moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty,” he said.

The press conference, entitled ‘Death Penalty the Highest Gender-Based Violence toward Women: Abolish for Women’s Justice and Recovery’, was held to commemorate the World Day Against the Death Penalty, which is observed every October 10.

Source: Antara News

The Mataram City Regional Hospital is ready to provide health services during the 2021 Mandalika World Superbike (WSBK) event scheduled in Central Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, on November 19-21, 2021.

“Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), the Mataram City Public Hospital is involved in the implementation of the 2021 WSBK along with the NTB General Hospital,” president director of the Mataram Public Hospital Ni Ketut Eka Nurhayati stated here on Monday.

However, the delineation of tasks between regional and provincial hospitals at the racing event had yet to be discussed, as the decree had recently been issued, she noted.

Hence, Nurhayati drew attention to various upcoming meetings among stakeholders, comprising trainings for the medical team that will serve at the Mandalika Circuit.

“We will collaborate with the NTB General Hospital to provide excellent health services for the event,” she remarked.

Furthermore, Nurhayati noted that according to the initial plan on health services at the circuit, emergency hospitals will be available both with and outside the circuit area to offer immediate treatment to patients.

If patients need further treatment, the teams at the emergency hospitals will decide which hospitals they need to be referred.

“It was planned that if the patients were the officials, they would be transferred to the NTB General Hospital. Meanwhile, patients would be moved to the Mataram City Regional Hospital if they were members of the audience. Thus, we will prepare rooms at the Graha Mentaram building for their treatment,” she explained.

According to Nurhayati, her side will optimize the current medical team without any additional personnel by setting a work schedule for the 2021 Mandalika WSBK.

“We will optimize and prepare our current medical officers carefully. The number of guests and spectators will reach tens of thousands, thereby necessitating more COVID-19 screening teams, especially to conduct PCR and antigen rapid tests,” she added.

Source: Antara News

The Indonesian government claimed on Monday that Indonesia ranked first in the COVID-19 recovery index among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries.

Globally, Indonesia’s COVID-19 recovery index is at 54th position, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, who concurrently heads the National Economic and COVID-19 Recovery Committee (KPCPEN), stated.

In comparison with other ASEAN member countries, Singapore was ranked 70th in the world’s COVID-19 recovery index, while Malaysia and Thailand stood at 102nd and 109th positions respectively, he pointed out.

Speaking at a virtual press briefing on public activity restrictions (PPKM) on Monday, Hartarto also disclosed the COVID-19 recovery rates in islands outside Java and Bali.

He noted that the recovery rates of islands outside Java and Bali had begun showing improvement. Sumatra, for instance, has clocked a recovery rate of 95.55 percent, while its fatality rate was recorded at 3.56 percent.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Sumatra also declined up to 94 percent from August 9, 2021, he noted, adding that Kalimantan’s recovery rate had touched 95.9 percent, while its fatality rate stood at 3.16 percent.

Kalimantan had also witnessed a decline in active cases of up to 93.18 percent. The declining trends were also observed in other islands, such as Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.

Sulawesi registered a recovery rate of 96.05 percent, while its fatality rate stood at 2.63 percent. It also witnessed a decline in active cases of up to 90.9 percent.

Maluku and Papua had recorded a recovery rate of 95.75 percent and fatality rate of 1.75 percent and saw a decline in active cases of up to 88.86 percent.

Referring to the results of a weekly assessment of 386 districts and cities outside Java and Bali, the authorities continue to impose level 4 public activity restrictions (PPKM) in one district and city, he noted.

As of Monday, the level 1 PPKM status was applied to 69 districts and cities outside Java and Bali; the level 2 PPKM status in 278 districts/cities; and level 3 PPKM in 38 districts and cities, Hartarto remarked.

None of the 27 provinces outside Java and Bali were designated as level 4 PPKM areas, he noted.

The coronavirus outbreak initially struck the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019 and then spread to various parts of the world, including countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Indonesian Government announced the country’s first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020. Since then, the central and regional governments have made persistent efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve by imposing healthcare protocols and public activity restrictions.

To break the chain of transmission of COVID-19, which has impacted the purchasing power of scores of families in Indonesia, the central government also banned homebound travel, locally known as “mudik”, during last year and this year’s fasting month of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri holiday season.

Source: Antara News

Eighty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported during the XX National Sports Week (PON) being held in Papua as of Monday afternoon, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has informed.

“The 83 cases are concentrated among the participants competing in several sports — comprising judo, archery, roller skating, cricket, and motocross — as well as originating from a number of provinces — for instance, Jakarta, East Java, Central Java, and Bali,” he said at an online press conference on community activity restrictions (PPKM), accessed here on Monday.

According to the ministry’s observation, virus transmission occurred in the lodging as each room was occupied by four people and the PON participants often ate together, the minister informed.

“It will be our evaluation to improve the implementation of health protocols in future events,” he said.

The implementation of the health protocols can still be improved by giving greater authority to the regional COVID-19 handling task forces, he added.

Furthermore, he said that his ministry had noticed that seven infected athletes had returned to their provinces before the end of their five-day quarantine period.

One athlete returned to Tarakan City, North Kalimantan Province, two returned to Jambi Province, three to Sidoarjo District, East Java Province, and one to the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province, he noted.

“The President (Joko Widodo) has urged the athletes to be quarantined at their hometowns,” Sadikin said.

Several standards have been set regarding the implementation of health protocols at the XX PON, including giving adequate authority to the task forces and maintaining distancing among participants at the inns both while resting and eating, the minister said.

Other standards include conducting routine COVID-19 PCR tests to identify infected participants faster and keeping isolation centers ready to quarantine patients immediately, he added.

Source: Antara News

Indonesia has become the fifth country globally to vaccinate more than 100 million citizens, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said. “Currently, more than 163 million vaccine doses have been administered. More than 100 million citizens have received the first dose vaccination and more than 50 million have received the second dose,” Sadikin said at a press conference on public activity restrictions (PPKM) monitored online here, Monday.

This achievement had positioned Indonesia as the fifth country to administer COVID-19 vaccination to more than 100 million citizens, he revealed.

In addition, he said the national vaccination program had reached a pace of vaccinating two million people a day as previously recorded on September 23 and September 25. Therefore, it is hoped that the country can continue to surpass two million vaccine doses administered per day.

As of now, the number of vaccine doses the country has received is 226 million. Of the total, 205 million doses have been distributed to regions across the country, according to him.

Five million vaccine doses are about to arrive in Indonesia, and 160 million doses have been used to vaccinate the target recipients, he added.

“Therefore, within the next two or three days, there will still be 53 million vaccine doses available in 34 provinces which should be enough for us to expedite the vaccinations,” he said.

On this occasion, Minister Sadikin also addressed the changing dynamics of the COVID-19 vaccine supply, stating that the country will likely only receive 20 million Novavax vaccine doses this year from the initial plan to supply 50 million.

Indonesia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in March 2020, and to curb virus transmissions, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021.

Source: Antara News

The Betawi Cultural Village Management Unit (UPK PBB) of Setu Babakan in South Jakarta is conducting a trial reopening of Betawi Museum for tourists, with the number of visitors capped at 25 percent of the museum’s capacity.

“The museum opening trial has been conducted since September 25, 2021 for tourists. It is because only the museum has been CHSE-certified,” head of UPK PBB of Setu Babakan, Imron, said here on Monday.

According to Imron, to re-open a tourist area, it must meet the CHSE requirements, which refer to health protocols for tourism based on cleanliness, health, security, and environmental friendliness.

“The CHSE requirements are taken care of per destination, location, not the whole (tourist) site,” he said.

The trial reopening is being carried out on a limited time and place basis, thus only the Betawi Museum area is being opened Tuesdays through Sundays, while the remaining attractions are closed, he informed.

“It is closed on Mondays for the maintenance of the entire museum unless there is a prior agreement or guest,” he added.

According to Imron, for the trial reopening, the management has been asking visitors to scan the PeduliLindungi barcode to prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

“The regulation of the trial is only for visits to the Betawi Museum or zone A,” he explained.

Visitors are required to comply with the health protocols and scan the barcode when entering and leaving the premises, he said adding that and children under the age of 12 are not being allowed yet.

People who have not been vaccinated for health reasons, such as those who have just recovered from COVID-19, can still visit the Betawi Museum by bringing a doctor’s statement, he said.

Moreover, people who earlier tested positive for COVID-19 need to show the latest negative RT-PCR listed in the PeduliLindungi account, he added.

Source: Antara News

The Government Spokesperson for COVID-19 Handling and Ambassador for Behavior Change Dr. Reisa Broto Asmoro explained the government’s decision to allow the public to take part in large-scale events.

“We should be grateful the current pandemic in Indonesia is getting under control. National COVID-19 data as of 10th October, 2021 shows confirmed cases from 34 provinces, or 514 districts and cities, were below 1,000. 894 people to be exact,” Asmoro said here on Monday.

She added large-scale events can be currently be organized, such as sports, conferences, concert festivals, trade fairs and wedding receptions, as the government had considered many factors, such as the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients around the country.

According to her data, as of 10th October, 1,584 patients have recovered, bringing total active cases to just 24,430 cases.

She further added 18 out of 34 provinces claim they had no COVID-19 deaths, while 24 provinces reported more recoveries than cases of transmission.

“Of course, this is all due to the hard work of all parties, both the government through its 3T, or testing, tracing and treatment, efforts, as well as expanding vaccination rate and coverage, and the public’s adherence to health protocols and the government’s vaccination program,” Dr. Asmoro said.

Based on data from asia.nikkei.com on 30th September, 2021, the COVID-19 recovery index in Indonesia has increased, making it the leading country in terms of recovery rate in Southeast Asia at 54.5 per cent, she added.

Indonesia is ranked fifth in the world in terms of highest number of vaccinations, which enabled the government to allow public activities to be happen again, while still imposing health protocols, she said in conclusion.

Source: Antara News