December 19, 2021

Members of Ambaidiru armed group surrender to Yapen Police, Papua

Members of an armed group of Ambaidiru kampong, Kosiwo Sub-district, have surrendered to Yapen Police on an occasion witnessed by local officials and kampong chiefs.

Senior Commissioner Ahmad M Kamal, spokesman of the Nemangkawi operation task force, in a statement on Sunday expressed his hope that others armed groups would follow such a step.

“(When) the condition is conducive, we would be able to concentrate on regional development by improving human resources and building facilities and infrastructure, to support the community life, to promote prosperity,” he said.

The surrender took place at the Yapen Police headquarters on Saturday (Dec 18) at the presence of Yapen’s national unity and politic office head, Sony Woria.

Commander of the 1709/Yawa Military District Command Lt Col Catur P Nugroho said that the presence of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the Police is not to scare Yapen Island’s people.

“We are here together to advance the development in Yapen Island,” he added.

Yapen Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Ferdyan I Fahmi said that TNI and the Police have taken persuasive approaches to promote understanding and convince Yapen people that the presence of legal enforcement personnel in Yapen Islands is as members of a family, not as enemy.

“We are present here to help the regional government develop Yapen Islands and accelerate the welfare for the people, both concerning education and health,” he said.

The security personnel will also guarantee that Christmas and New Year celebrations would run smoothly and safely, he added.

“Since long time ago, Papua is part of Indonesia, and Indonesia includes Papua. Hence, there must be no struggle beyond that. There must be no fight in the name of Free Papua or West Papua,” he said.

A member of the Ambaidiru group said that they had taken a wrong path so far, and hence they have decided to return to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) for the unity of Indonesia.

“The (Yapen) police chief has told us that we do not need (to fight for) freedom any more. We have agreed to surrender here and admit our mistakes. Now we want to return and unite together to advance the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” he said.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

BMKG installs 17 more seismographs across Indonesia

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has begun installing 17 seismographs across Indonesia to push for better information efficiency and accuracy and tsunami early warnings.

“These shelters and seismograph networks are needed to reinforce the network to improve the efficiency and accuracy of information and tsunami early warnings at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency,” BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati, said in a statement received here on Sunday.

Karnawati said that some 411 sensors had been installed in the Earthquake Monitoring System Network. Currently 428 sensors had been installed after the additional 17 sensors, she informed.

The addition of 17 seismographs was marked by her inauguration of a recently installed seismograph sensor, coded SYJI, in Candi Abang Sub-district, Yogyakarta, on Saturday December 18.

She explained that the number and placement of sensors was determined based on the nature of earthquakes that have occurred. For example, they were caused by friction between tectonic plates such as the Indo-Australian Plate, Eurasian Plate, Pacific Plate and Philippine Plate, as well as active faults that have been identified.

The possibilities have been evaluated, considered, and taken into account by the agency and its collaborative partners, a team of experts from the Bandung Institute of Technology and Gadjah Mada University, coordinated by Prof. Nanang Puspito.

“With the addition of this seismograph, we want to offer maximum effort in providing weather, climate, earthquake and tsunami information services in a fast, precise, and accurate manner,” Karnawati elaborated.

Since 2016, the agency has been increasingly aware that Indonesia is a very disaster-prone country, yet the nation is not equipped with sophisticated technology to counter them. To address the issue, the agency continuously add and update tools and technology as means to protect the public from disasters.

Although earthquakes and tsunamis are unpredictable, their impact could be minimized through efficient earthquake analysis resulted from strong seismograph network, precise tsunami modeling, widespread information dissemination to the public, and appropriate education of disaster mitigation.

Tsunami Early Warning and Monitoring System is a manifestation of Indonesia’s progress and preparedness in an effort to prevent, or at least reduce, the impact of the earthquake and tsunami that could happen anytime and anywhere.

“This is the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency’s effort to protect the entire nation from the threats of an earthquake and tsunami. Hopefully, the Indonesian citizens will be more aware and also resilient in facing disasters,” she remarked.

According to the agency’s data, the frequency of earthquakes in Indonesia tends to increase every year.

From 2008 to 2016, the agency recorded an average of 5,000-6,000 earthquakes a year. Just in 2017, the number of earthquakes increased to up to 7,169. The number of earthquakes spiked up in 2019, reaching more than 11,500..

As for tsunami disasters, there have been a total of 246 tsunamis in Indonesia from 1600 to October 2021.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

768 houses in S Sulawesi’s Selayar Islands damaged due to quake

Some 768 houses in Selayar Islands District, South Sulawesi Province, were damaged due to a powerful earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, Pasimarannu Subdistrict head Samsil has informed.

“According to data, 768 houses were damaged in Pasimarannu Subdistrict, of which 203 were severely damaged and 565 were mildly impaired,” Samsil said to South Sulawesi Acting Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman in Selayar on Sunday.

He added, the earthquake also marred a number of government facilities, including a huge dock of a port and a boat mooring dock in Lambego Village.

“The other mangled public facilities are mosques and schools,” Samsil said.

Meanwhile, Sulaiman has granted financial aid of Rp8 billion to Selayar Islands District Head for mitigating the impact of the disaster. He hoped, the assistance can be utilized by the district government, especially for the emergency response in Selayar.

“We also hope that the Selayar Islands administration can conceive a budgeting system that is really needed by the community and can be accounted for appropriately,” he explained.

The acting governor and his team travelled to the islands by a Super Puma helicopter owned by the Indonesian Air Force and arrived there at 12:00 p.m. local time.

Sulaiman visited Bonerate Island in Pasimarannu Subdistrict which bore the brunt to the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that hit the Flores Sea, East Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday, Dec 14.

Also on Sunday morning, Dec 19, East Nusa Tenggara Province’s Larantuka region was shaken by an earthquake with a depth of 11 km, according to a report by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The earthquake of 4.6 magnitude which occurred on Sunday, December 19, 2021, at 03:27 a.m. local time, was centered 8.03 degrees South Latitude and 122.42 degrees East Longitude, or, 68 km northwest of Larantuka, according to BMKG’s official website.

Hence, BMKG reminded the public to be alert of the potential for aftershocks.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

Indonesia, Jamaica commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations

Indonesia and Jamaica commemorated their 40 years of diplomatic relations by holding a virtual meeting between business players of the two countries.

The virtual meeting, which was officially opened by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, brought together more than one hundred Indonesian and Jamaican business actors, according to Indonesian Embassy in Havana’s statement received here on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith was also present in the commemoration event.

In her opening remarks, Marsudi said that during 40 years of Indonesia-Jamaica diplomatic relations, the two countries have established good trust and cooperation in a number of fields.

“This virtual business meeting will bring the closeness of the business community of Indonesia and Jamaica to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Smith highlighted that since the establishment of the Jamaica-Indonesia Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in 1996, the two countries have worked together in the fields of agriculture, tourism and research.

“Jamaica looks forward to continuing to improve bilateral relations especially in the field of trade and investment with Indonesia,” she added.

In the aspect of social service, Smith also praised some Indonesian nationals for serving Jamaican people through the Missionaries for the Poor in Kingston. Currently, she said, there are 20 Indonesian missionaries living in Jamaica.

On the same occasion, Indonesian Ambassador to Cuba and Jamaica Nana Yuliana said that Jamaica is one of Indonesia’s important trade partners in the Caribbean region, as shown in Indonesia’s trade volumes to Jamaica that were surplus in 2020 and 2021.

In 2020, Indonesia recorded a surplus of US$15.89 million (Rp228 billion) in its trade with Jamaica. Meanwhile, in the period of January-September 2021, Indonesia’s trade surplus with Jamaica was US$11.81 million (Rp169 billion).

“Hopefully, the value of Indonesia-Jamaica trade continues to increase and be equal with the help of a good commitment both from the Indonesian Honorary Consul and cooperation in some excellent sectors including sports and education,” Yuliana said.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

Mount Semeru emits 3 km long of hot clouds avalanche

Mount Semeru again emitted hot clouds as far as 3 kilometers in the southeast direction, according to visual observation on Sunday.

“Based on visual observations at the Mount Semeru Observation Post on Mount Sawur from 00.00 to 06.00 am local time on Sunday, hot clouds of avalanches were observed with a sliding distance of 3 kilometers towards Besuk Kobokan,” the Head of the West Region Volcano Mitigation Sub Division of National Volcanological Survey, Nia Khaerani, said in Lumajang District.

“As for seismic activity, there was one hot cloud avalanche with an amplitude of 20 mm for 720 seconds, and then eight avalanches with an amplitude of 2-8 mm for 30-60 seconds,” she informed.

Mount Semeru also experienced one gust earthquake with an amplitude of 7 mm for 65 seconds, and one distant tectonic earthquake with an amplitude of 7 mm for 120 seconds.

“The hot clouds that fell from Mount Semeru came from two sources, namely the top (the growth of the lava dome) and the bottom (the tip of the lava),” Khaerani added.

When the mountain was observed on Sunday at 06.00-12.00 am local time, it was clearly visible and an avalanche occurred with a sliding distance of 200 meters in the direction of the Curah Kobokan.

Seven avalanches happened, with an amplitude of 7-22 mm for 42-125 seconds, and one shallow volcanic earthquake with an amplitude of 10 mm for 13 seconds.

“The status of Mount Semeru is at level III or alert, so people are advised not to carry out any activities in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan as far as 13 kilometers from the summit (the center of the eruption),” she warned.

She warned that beyond that distance, the public should do things within 500 meters of the riverbank along Besuk Kobokan because there was a risk that the hot clouds and lava would extend up to 17 km from the summit.

“People are also banned from doing activities within a 5 km radius from the peak of Mount Semeru because there is a risk of the mountain throwing out stones,” she remarked.

The public must also remain cautious of the risk of hot clouds, lava, and lava along rivers or valleys which originates from the peak of Mount Semeru, particularly along Besuk Kobokan, Besuk Bang, Besuk Kembar, and Besuk Sat, as well as the potential for lava in rivers which started from Besuk Kobokan.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

Tornado damages dozen of houses in Central Lombok

Heavy rain accompanied by a tornado struck Central Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara province, damaging dozens of houses on Saturday night (Dec 18) at 9:00 p.m. local time.

“Some of the residents’ houses were either severely or lightly damaged after being swept away by a tornado last night,” Central Lombok Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Head Ridwan Makruf said in Praya on Sunday.

Moreover, the natural disaster also seriously injured two people after being hit by their house ruins. Currently, the injured victims are being treated at a local health post, Makruf added.

Based on BPBD data as of Dec 19, 11:23 a.m. local time, five houses were seriously impaired and a dozen houses were mildly impacted due to the tornado.

BPBD is still calculating the financial losses caused by the disaster. “The data of material losses are still being collected,” he added.

Shortly after receiving information about the disaster, BPBD’s team went down to check the condition of the residents and provided logistical assistance to them. BPBD is still waiting for information about the affected people’s needs.

“The team will re-evaluate what is the most urgent need of the (impacted) community. Temporarily, residents still evacuate in their family’s houses as theirs are damaged,” Makruf explained.

Makruf’s team advised the public to stay alert for the impact of heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds.

“We advise the community to remain vigilant for the extreme weather that occurs at the end of December 2021,” he added.

Around one month ago, a tornado also struck many houses located in Bangkat Parak Village and Kidang Village, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

Floods isolate thousands of villagers in West Sumatra

Floods swamped five hamlets in Tiku Lima Jorong Village in Tanjungmutiara Sub-district, Agam District, West Sumatra Province, isolating at least 4,000 villagers as the flooding cut off roads connecting the areas to other villages.

The flood-affected hamlets were Muaro Putih, Subang-subang, Labuhan, Gadih Angik and Masang, Anaswar, secretary of the Tiku LIma Jorong Village Administration, said here on Sunday.

The flooding was triggered by heavy rains that caused Batang Masang and Batang Antokan Rivers to spill over their banks.

“The residents cannot go out to other regions, but their routine activities continue as usual. The food stocks are adequate for next several weeks,” he said.

The village’s main roads were flooded at a height of between 50 cm to 1.5 meter, preventing vehicles from passing through, he added.

The local disaster mitigation office has deployed personnel and a boat to the affected hamlets.

The authorities, however, needed another large boat to help transport local residents’ motorcycles to higher grounds.

Source: Antara News

December 19, 2021

Ministry bestows awards upon industries supporting vocational schools

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has bestowed the DUDI (the synergy among the communities of industry and business) awards upon partners for their contribution to the vocational education sector.

“These awards are not a competition among DUDI, but an appreciation from the government to industry and business players who have partnered with (the government),” the Ministry’s Director General of Vocational Education, Wikan Sakarinto, said in a written statement here on Sunday.

It is not difficult to establish partnership but it is also not easy to create partnership matching model, he said adding the particularity of vocational education is the value of link and match, which is attested by partnerships.

“Through the DUDI Awards, we laud DUDI and the associations that have contributed and dedicated to (developing) vocational education,” he explained.

In the event, the Ministry bestowed DUDI awards upon 40 selected companies that have shown their commitments to the development of vocational education in the country.

During the nomination period, 420 vocational education units (schools and polytechnics) nominated 360 companies and industries for the DUDI awards. .

“This means that the education units already witness the implementation and benefits of the link and match program with its DUDI partners,” Sakarinto pointed out.

Furthermore, he has asked courses and training institutions (LKPs) to help produce skilled labor force that meets the industrial needs. Hence, the industrial world is not only supported by the graduates of formal education but also non-formal ones.

One of the companies that won the award was state electricity firm PT PLN. “We offer the learning facilities and utilities that are related to practice method,” Executive Vice President of Corporate Communication and CSR PLN Agung Murdifi has said here earlier.

Source: Antara News