January 17, 2022 – Page 3 – Indonesia News Gazette

January 17, 2022

Legislator presses for evaluation of face-to-face learning in Jakarta

Member of Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) Putra Nababan emphasized the need to evaluate the implementation of 100-percent face-to-face learning in Jakarta amid the increasing number of Omicron cases.

“Face-to-face learning, with 100-percent capacity, is implemented in several provinces with different case counts of Omicron. Regions, with a high number of Omicron cases, should be evaluated. This is especially for Jakarta, where the implementation of 100-percent face-to-face learning must be evaluated immediately,” he noted when contacted here on Monday.

Classes that have been implemented offline can go back online by referring to the emergency curriculum until the Omicron cases that are forecast to peak in early March can be handled well.

Nababan pressed for the implementation of face-to-face learning to be adjusted to the current situation of COVID-19 in each region.

“Essentially, 100-percent face-to-face learning is an effort to overcome learning loss or the loss of students’ learning opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he explained.

Nababan remarked that in the midst of the pandemic, the most important aspect is the health of students, educators, and other members of the school. Efforts that must be made to protect them are implementing strict health protocols and also booster vaccinations.

The legislator also urged the government to prioritize the third dose or booster vaccinations for educators and educational staff since most of them have completed vaccinations for almost a year.

Earlier, the Jakarta Health Office mentioned that the number of Omicron cases in the capital had reached 720.

The Indonesian government recently allowed schools to commence face-to-face learning at 100-percent capacity through the issuance of the Four Ministries Joint Decree on guidelines for the implementation of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint decree allows regions, with Level 1 and 2 public activity restrictions (PPKM), to implement 100-percent face-to-face learning.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

Police officer shot in gunfight with Papuan terrorists in Kiwirok

A member of the Indonesian Police’s Operation Nemangkawi Task Force was shot during a gunfight with several armed Papuan separatist terrorists in the Kiwirok area of Pegunungan Bintang District on Monday morning.

First Constable Bachtiar survived the shooting though he sustained a gunshot injury on the left side of his shoulder blade, Pegunungan Bintang Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Cahyo Sukarnito revealed.

The wounded Mobile Brigade member is in a stable condition, he noted.

ANTARA has reported that Operation Nemangkawi was launched in 2019 following the massacre of 31 workers of PT Istaka Karya in Kali Yigi and Kali Aurak in Yigi Sub-district, Nduga District, on December 2, 2018.

Papuan separatist terrorists, who were believed to be behind the brutal killings of the Trans Papua construction workers, also killed a soldier, identified as Handoko, and injured two other security personnel, Sugeng and Wahyu, according to reports.

Papua has borne witness to a repeated cycle of violence, with armed groups in the districts of Intan Jaya, Nduga, and Puncak targeting civilians and security personnel over the past few years.

Intan Jaya recorded its bloodiest month in September 2020, with armed groups launching a series of attacks in the area that claimed the lives of two soldiers and two civilians and left two others injured.

The acts of terror have continued in 2021. On January 10, 2021, for instance, an Indonesian soldier died in a gunfight in the Titigi area of Intan Jaya District.

On April 25, 2021, Papuan separatists, operating in Beoga, ambushed State Intelligence Agency (Papua) Chief I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha and several security personnel during their visit to Dambet Village.

Nugraha died of gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.

The National Police has extended the Nemangkawi Task Force’s operational period till January 25, 2022, following the end of the second phase of its operations on December 31, 2021.

According to the National Police’s spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ahmad Ramadhan, the decision was made based on the outcome of an analysis and evaluation conducted by the National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) before the task force’s operational period ended in December 2021.

The police will make the most of the extended period to make requisite preparations to continue its territorial operation under the command of Papua Police, Ramadhan noted recently.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

Police step up hunt for Fico Fachriza’s drug supplier

Jakarta police have identified the person who supplied cannabinoids to stand-up comic Fico Fachriza, who was apprehended from his home for drug use on January 13, 2022, a spokesperson disclosed here Monday.

Efforts have been stepped up to hunt down the suspect, Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Senior Commissioner Endra Zulpan, said.

“The suspected supplier has been identified on a social media platform, and the police have put the suspect on the wanted list,” he informed.

While arresting the top stand-up comic at his home in Pancoran Mas sub-district, Depok city, West Java province, police officials had seized 1.45 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, he said.

Following his arrest, Fachriza had undergone a urine test whose result had confirmed that he had consumed the drugs, he added.

Fachriza told investigators that he has been using synthetic cannabinoids since 2016 and purchased the drugs from someone on a social media platform, Zulpan said.

Fachriza paid Rp300 thousand to the supplier for the drugs he was caught consuming, he informed.

Fachriza’s arrest has added to the list of Indonesian artistes arrested in drug cases.

Indonesia remains under serious threat from drug dealers, with a significant section of its working-age population trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse.

According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), at least 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day. The statistic has failed to deter drug users in the country from consuming the banned substances.

Users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from any community and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. The drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.

The Indonesian government has continued to apply harsh punitive action against kingpins found smuggling and trading drugs over the past few decades.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.

However, this has failed to discourage drug traffickers, and they have continued to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers have kept the fight going against them.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

No rehab request received for Fico Fachriza: Jakarta police

The Jakarta police’s narcotics division has not received Indonesian top stand-up comic Fico Fachriza’s family’s application for sending to a rehabilitation center following arrest for illicit drug consumption on January 13, 2022, a police officer stated.

“We have yet to receive any application for that (from Fachriza’s family),” Director of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Narcotics Division Senior Commissioner, Mukti Juharsa, noted here, Monday.

Nonetheless, the police have allowed Fachriza’s family to apply for sending him to a rehabilitation center, as it is their right to do so, he remarked.

Fachriza was apprehended at his home in Pancoran Mas Sub-district, Depok City, West Java Province, on January 13, 2022. The cops seized 1.45 grams of synthetic cannabinoids.

Following his arrest, Fachriza then underwent a urine test whose result confirmed that he had consumed the synthetic cannabinoids.

His arrest has added to the list of Indonesian artists arrested in drug cases.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug dealers, as several individuals from its working-age population have been trapped in a vicious circle.

The National Narcotics Agency’s (BNN’s) report that some 50 Indonesians die of drug use every day has not yet deterred drug users in the country from consuming these banned substances.

The users of crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other types of addictive drugs come from different communities and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Indonesia is perceived by both domestic and transnational drug dealers as a potential market due to its huge population and millions of drug users. Drug trade in the country is estimated to have reached nearly least Rp66 trillion.

In response to the illicit drugs that drug kingpins have smuggled into and traded in the country over the past few decades, the Indonesian government continues to apply harsh punitive action against them.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had also issued shoot-at-sight orders against drug kingpins.

However, this has failed to deter drug traffickers since they continue to treat Indonesia as one of their main markets even as Indonesian law enforcers keep the fight going against them.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

ID Food eyeing increased productivity through farming digitalization

The Food State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Holding ID Food is conducting development of farming digitalization to bolster productivity of various food commodities produced by holding members.

During a meeting at the parliament building here on Monday, Presidential Director of ID Food Ari Prasetya Adi noted that ID Food will build an integrated farming system from upstream to downstream.

The integrated farming system will be implemented digitally starting from determining planting location points to monitoring plant development through digital farming, he noted.

“We have readied a type of drone to spray fertilizers at several places, so we also mechanize farming,” he remarked.

In addition, digital farming currently being conducted by ID Food encompasses monitoring weather development and potential for the next two or three months to maximize farming.

“Then, we also coordinate the stock data and start to consolidate them at several points, including for the delivery. Distribution to around 60 thousand outlets of food stores had also been digitalized,” Adi noted.

“Thus, we have prepared end-to-end digitalization starting from production to warehouse management system and inventory control until sale in the downstream,” he stated.

In future, the use of precision farming system with technology will also become of the focus areas of ID Food, he remarked.

Minister of SOEs, Erick Thohir, has mandated Food SOEs Holding to have already applied farming technology on account of the fact that various nations abroad have become quite advanced in its implementation.

In addition, ID Food also targets 75,393 farmers to become involved in the Program Makmur (Prosperity Program).

The program will work on 85,886 hectares of land, with the planting target of 82,701 hectares across Indonesia.

The program aims to bolster productivity through a holistic and comprehensive approach to make Indonesian farmers prosperous.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway progresses by 79.9 percent: Jokowi

Development of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project has reached 79.9-percent completion and is targeted to become operational by June 2023, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

“So far, work on 79.9 percent of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project has been completed. We expect to test it by the end of 2022 to be operated in June 2023,” Jokowi noted while inspecting tunnel 2 for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail (KCJB) project in Purwakarta District, West Java, on Monday.

Jokowi inspected the progress in construction of the KCJB along with Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, President Director of PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, and other relevant officials.

During his visit, Jokowi reviewed the technical problems encountered in tunnel 2 of the project.

“Based on information on the field, progress in the work at tunnel 2 is running slowly because of the type of soil in the area. Being here requires careful work,” he emphasized.

Jokowi is optimistic that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train would reduce traffic congestion in the two cities.

“We are optimistic that this project would reduce congestion both in Jakarta and in Bandung as well as accelerate the mobility of people and goods. We are optimistic that this would offer a good competitive advantage for our country,” Jokowi remarked.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train will use the latest generation of CR400AF train cars. The project has a track length of 142.3 kilometers from Jakarta to Bandung.

The train will stop at Halim, Karawang, Padalarang, and Tegalluar stations. Each station will be integrated with modes of mass transportation in each region.

Of the total length of the high-speed rail lines, over 80 kilometers have elevated structures, while the rest are 13 tunnels and subgrades.

Several temporary facilities, such as a batching plant and casting yard, were built at several critical points to expedite the construction process.

The cost of building the rail for this high-speed train increased to US$1.9 billion, or around Rp26.7 trillion.

According to the KCIC estimation, the project’s cost overruns in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) reached some US$0.6 billion-1.6 billion; land acquisition, $0.3 billion; financing costs, $0.2 billion; headquarters and pre-operations, $0.2 billion; and other costs, $0.05 billion.

Earlier, the initial cost structure of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project comprised $4.80 billion for EPC, $0.16 billion for HSR management and consultants, $0.80 billion for land acquisition, financing costs reaching $0.2 billion, while $0.03 billion for headquarters and pre-operations, and other costs reaching $0.01 billion.

Meanwhile, the project funding structure totalling $6.07 billion came from the China Development Bank (CDB) loan of $4.55 billion and equity worth $1.52 billion comprising the equity of PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia (PSBI) worth $0.91 billion and the Chinese consortium equity of $0.61 billion.

As a result of this increase in budget, the government decided to intervene in the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project by utilizing the State Budget (APBN).

The government and Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) have approved the addition of State Equity Participation (PMN) in 2021 and the 2022 allocation for PT KAI (Persero), with Rp4.3 trillion for the base quality requirements of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

Indonesia’s trade balance reaches US$35.34 billion in 2021

Indonesia’s trade balance reached US$35.34 billion in 2021, its highest value since 2006, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has reported.

“Our trade balance in 2021 recorded a surplus of US$35.34 billion. This is the highest in the last 15 years. Previously, 2006 also recorded a record high of around US$39.37 billion,” said head of the Statistics Agency Margo Yuwono at a virtual press conference here on Monday.

He informed that the surplus came from exports of US$231.54 billion, which increased 41.88 percent compared to the year-ago period, and imports of US$196.19 billion, which increased 38.59 percent year on year in 2021.

Based on BPS data, mining and other exports reached US$37 billion, up 92.15 percent or the highest compared to 2020, he noted. Earlier, the sector’s contribution was just US$19.73 billion, he added.

Other sectors that contributed to the surplus in the trade balance last year were the manufacturing industry (US$177 billion), the oil and gas sector (US$12.27 billion), and the agricultural sector (US$4.23 billion), he informed.

Meanwhile, the Statistics Agency also pegged imports of raw materials at US$147 billion, an increase of 42.80 percent compared to 2020, also the highest value during the period.

Yuwono said that the highest trade balance surplus of US$5.75 billion was recorded in October 2021.

Source: Antara News

January 17, 2022

Government allocates US$5.9 billion for Papua for 2022

The Indonesian government has allocated a budget of Rp84.7 trillion (US$5.9 billion) for the provinces of Papua and West Papua for 2022, the Ministry of Finance, through its Directorate General of Finance Balance, has informed.

“The figure has increased from Rp79.7 trillion in 2020, but decreased from Rp85.8 trillion in 2021 because there was a spending at the central (government level), which was the National Economic Recovery (PEN) in 2021,” director of general fund transfer at the ministry, Adriyanto, said during a meeting on the Papua Development Acceleration Master Plan (RIPPP) for 2022–2041 here on Monday.

The government’s budget for Papua and West Papua in 2022 includes Rp12.9 trillion for special autonomy funds, additional infrastructure funds, regional and village transfer funds (TKDD) of Rp50.2 trillion, and spending of ministries/institutions of Rp21.6 trillion, he informed.

Of the total Rp84.7 trillion, Rp27.24 trillion has been set aside for West Papua and Rp57.41 trillion for Papua, Adriyanto highlighted.

“We see that the expenditure of ministries/institutions was huge in 2021 (Rp21.6 trillion). This is our task together for RIPPP on how to synergize this spending fund with the local government’s spending,” he said.

He also advised that the central and local governments in Papua not hold the same activities or programs so government spending can be made more efficient.

“Enormous spending budget is good, but the same (kind of) activities should not happen. Excessive activities can cause inefficiencies in the project and use of budget,” he said.

The Indonesian government is drafting the Papua Development Acceleration Master Plan (RIPPP) for the period 2022–2041. RIPPP is based on Law No. 2 of 2021 concerning Papua’s special autonomy and Government Regulation No. 107 of 2021 on Approval, Management, Supervision, and RIPPP in the Realization of Special Autonomy of Papua Province.

Source: Antara News