Viktor Yeimo Has a Relationship with Indonesian APB, Veronika Koman

JAYAPURA, LELEMUKU.COM - The Papua Regional Police General Criminal Directorate continues to conduct investigations on the spokesman for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), Viktor Yeimo, for his involvement in many cases Papua.

One of the investigations focuses is Viktor Yeimo's involvement with an Indonesian all-points bulletin (APB) Veronika Koman. From the investigation results, the police found that Viktor Yeimo was the data supplier for Veronika Koman, who was in Australia.

"Meanwhile, the investigation is about it because all this time they are both reporting untrue things about Papua. The person concerned (Viktor Yeimo) took the data from the KNPB and then shared it with Veronika Koman in Australia. So he is like a data supplier for Veronika Koman," said Chief of Papua Regional Police, Police Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri in Jayapura City, Tuesday (11/5/2021) morning.

Apart from examining the relationship between Viktor Yeimo and Veronika Koman, investigators also examined the supply of funds for the KNPB.

"We will check the flow of funds for this organization (KNPB). Including their action at the Papua governor's office in 2019. We understand whom the funds flow from, "he explained.

Previously, KNPB spokesman Viktor Yeimo was named a suspect in the riot case in Jayapura City in 2019. In addition, he was also charged with several other cases such as ITE, propaganda and treason cases.(HumasPolri)

Indonesian Military Says Missing Submarine Sank in Deep Water off Bali

DENPASAR, LELEMUKU.COM - Hopes for the survival of 53 sailors aboard a missing Indonesian Navy submarine dimmed Saturday when the military announced that the vessel sank and may have cracked and disintegrated in deep water off Bali as it went down.

Senior armed forces officials pointed to debris and objects from the submarine that were recovered in the ongoing search for the KRI Nanggala-402 as evidence of cracks that caused it to sink hundreds of meters below the surface of the Bali Sea.

The submersible boat lost radio contact after being cleared to dive during a torpedo training exercise early Wednesday morning.

“The search has shifted to the sub sunk phase, from the sub miss phase,” Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, the chief of the armed forces, told reporters in Bali, using a military term for a missing submarine.

The recovered items included a part used in the submarine’s torpedo system, a heat insulator and a bottle of lubricant for greasing the periscope, officials said as they displayed the recovered objects during a press conference at a military base on Bali. A Muslim prayer rug from the submarine was also recovered, they said.

“These objects would have never slipped out of the submarine unless there was pressure or cracks,” Hadi said.  

Navy Chief Adm. Yudo Margono indicated that the crew’s chances of survival were slim, but he and other military officials declined to say out right whether all the sailors on the submarine had perished, when reporters pressed them on this question.

“It did not explode, but there was a crack due to the depth of 700 meters [2,296 feet]. The pressure was so high that there could have been cracks in the submarine,” the Navy chief said.

Water might have flooded the submarine because of cracks but part of the submarine’s cabin could be compartmentalized to prevent more seawater from coming in provided that the hatches were closed, Yudo said.

“Seventy-two hours is the maximum limit in the event of an electrical blackout, but it can last up to five days if the electricity is on. But we suspect that there was a blackout,” he said, referring to the submarine’s oxygen supply, which had been expected to run out early Saturday.

“We have tried our best to find the KRI Nanggala, but this morning was the deadline for oxygen life support to run out. Oil spills and debris have become authentic evidence of Nanggala’s sinking,” Hadi said.

No bodies have been found so far, according to Yudo.

“We are still carrying out the search ... the depth of the sea we have detected is at 850 meters (2,790 feet), which is very tricky and presents many difficulties,” Reuters quoted the admiral as saying.

The announcement came as an Australian frigate, the HMAS Ballarat, and a U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft arrived in Bali to join dozens of Indonesian vessels that have scoured the sea to locate the submarine during the past few days.

Singapore’s submarine-rescue ship, the MV Swift Rescue, was expected to arrive later on Saturday, the Navy said.

Malaysia and India are also sending ships to support the search effort.

The Indonesian military believes that the submarine sank to between 600 and 700 meters below the surface – far deeper than the German-made vessel was designed to dive.

Yudo said Singapore’s MV Swift Rescue ship and a similar vessel from Malaysia had remotely operated vehicles that could reach depths of 900 to 1000 meters.

The Ballarat is equipped with sonar technology that could detect underwater objects, he said.

“Together, all teams will work hard because the depth of the sea is 850 meters and it will be extremely hard to do lifting and evacuation work,” Yudo said.

The KRI Nanggala-402 was built by German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft in 1977 and came into service in 1981, the Indonesian military said.

From 2009 to 2012, the submarine was retrofitted by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, officials said.

Indonesia has five submarines, including the missing one.

Former Rear Adm. Soleman Ponto said the Nanggala might have broken up because the hull could no longer withstand the pressure.

“It is unlikely that they will survive,” he told BenarNews, referring to the crew.

“When pressure is high, the submarine will crumble like a squeezed tin – flattened.” (Tria Dianti | Benarnews)

ASEAN Leaders Meetin Jakarta, Call for Immediate Stop to Violence in Myanmar

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - Southeast Asian leaders called for an “immediate cessation” to killings in Myanmar and the opening of ASEAN-brokered talks between its military regime and parallel civilian government, as they and the Burmese junta chief met in Jakarta for an emergency summit Saturday on that country’s post-coup strife.

A statement from the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the end of the one-day talks, which lasted about three hours, indicated ASEAN would appoint a special envoy to facilitate talks aimed at “a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.” It also said the regional bloc would provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar.

“We, as an ASEAN family, had a close discussion on the recent developments in Myanmar and expressed our deep concern on the situation in the country, including reports of fatalities and escalation of violence,” said the chairman’s statement issued by Brunei, the current holder of ASEAN’s annual rotating chair.

In the bloc’s pursuit “to strengthen our regional solidarity and resilience, we reiterated that the political stability in ASEAN Member States is essential to achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN Community,” the statement also said.

It went on to say that the member-states reaffirmed a collective commitment to the principles enshrined in the 54-year-old bloc’s charter, “including adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government, respect for fundamental freedoms, and the promotion and protection of human rights.”

The “Five-Point Consensus” on Myanmar called for the “immediate cessation of violence” with all parties exercising “utmost restraint”; a constructive dialogue among all parties; the mediation of such talks by a special envoy of the ASEAN chair, with assistance from the bloc’s secretary general; provisions of humanitarian assistance coordinated by ASEAN; and a visit to Myanmar by an ASEAN delegation, headed by the special envoy, to meet with all parties.

However, the five points did not include the release of political prisoners as the president of Indonesia – the largest country in ASEAN – and the prime minister of Malaysia had demanded in their speeches during Saturday’s summit.    

The statement, nonetheless, was the strongest collective one issued to date on the crisis in Myanmar, and a rare show of consensus that tested the 10-nation bloc’s founding principle of non-interference in members-states’ domestic affairs.

Although the statement said that the “ASEAN family” had “agreed” to the five points, it was not immediately known how Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the Burmese junta chief, whose forces have killed hundreds of civilian protesters since the Feb. 1 coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, responded.   

Min Aung Hlaing did not give a formal statement, according to Agence France-Presse.

The meeting, which was the first high-level in-person meeting among ASEAN leaders since the coronavirus pandemic broke out early last year, was closed to the press because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

"It's beyond our expectation," Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told reporters after the summit.

"We tried not to accuse his side too much because we don’t care who’s causing it," Reuters quoted Muhyiddin as saying. "We just stressed that the violence must stop. For him, it’s the other side that’s causing the problems. But he agreed that violence must stop."

Blunt words from Indonesia's leader

Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo was blunt in his remarks during the meeting, which he later conveyed during a post-summit news conference.

“The situation in Myanmar is something that is unacceptable and should not continue,” he told reporters.

“Violence must be stopped and democracy, stability and peace in Myanmar must be restored immediately.”

Jokowi said at the meeting, Indonesia demanded that Myanmar’s junta make three commitments: end its use of force, start an inclusive dialogue among parties by releasing political detainees at once and open access to humanitarian aid, under the coordination by ASEAN’s secretary general.

“Indonesia is committed to overseeing the continuation of this commitment so that the political crisis in Myanmar can be resolved immediately,” Jokowi said.

In his speech to the meeting, Prime Minister Muhyiddin echoed Jokowi’s remarks.

“Apart from immediately stopping the violence, my second point is to call for a meaningful, inclusive political dialogue which can only take place with the prompt and unconditional release of political detainees,” Muhyiddin said.

“This would be a good starting point and ease international pressure on Myanmar and ASEAN,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the ASEAN chair and secretary general must be given access into Myanmar to meet with all parties.

“This is much needed for ASEAN to provide an honest and unbiased observation. If ASEAN is allowed access, this can demonstrate to the world that it is on track in helping Myanmar restore normalcy in the country,” the Malaysian leader said.

The leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia had called for the emergency summit after the junta failed to heed demands to end the violence and release political detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Min Aung Hlaing arrived at Jakarta airport on a Myanmar Airways International flight in the early afternoon.

The general headed to the ASEAN Secretariat building, where the meeting was being held, after undergoing a COVID-19 test, the Indonesian president’s office said.

Apart from the junta chief, the other ASEAN states were represented in person by their top leaders, except for the Philippines, Thailand and Laos, who all sent their foreign ministers.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte cited their preoccupation with worsening COVID-19 outbreaks at home as their reason for skipping the meeting.

Also on Saturday in Jakarta, Christine Schraner Burgener, the United Nations special envoy on Myanmar met with Bui Thanh Son, the foreign minister of ASEAN member-state Vietnam, on the summit’s side lines, Vietnamese media reported. The U.N. envoy was going to the Indonesian capital to engage ASEAN leaders in discussions “focusing on a political solution” to the crisis in Myanmar, the world body had said earlier this week.  

Human rights groups, meanwhile, had criticized ASEAN for allowing the Burmese junta chief to represent Myanmar at the summit and exclude officials from the newly formed parallel National Unity Government (NUG) from attending it.

In a statement posted late Saturday on Facebook, the NUG said it welcomed “the encouraging news that ASEAN leaders have reached consensus that the military violence in Myanmar must stop and political prisoners be released.”

But it was not immediately clear whether the parallel civilian government was responding to the ASEAN chairman’s statement or to the speech by Jokowi.

“We appreciate the strong words from President Widodo of Indonesia calling for the release of our heroes,” Dr. Sasa, the union minister of international cooperation and spokesman for the NUG, said in the statement.

“We look forward to firm action by ASEAN to follow up its decisions and to restore democracy and freedom for our people and for the region.” (Ahmad Syamsudin/Ronna Nirmala | BenarNews)

49 People Were Killed in Christchurch Mosques Attack

At least 49 people were killed during Friday prayers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Young children are among the 48 people wounded in the attack and are being treated for gunshot wounds. Forty-one people were killed at one mosque, and seven people were killed at the second mosque.

The victims of Friday's shooting included immigrants from Pakistan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The suspects 

Three men and one woman are in custody. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said none of them were on security watch lists.

A 28-year old man has been charged with murder. The attacker has not been named, but Australia's prime minister said he was an Australian citizen and described him as an "extremist right-wing violent terrorist."

The gunman live-streamed the assault on Facebook from a head-mounted camera, and the footage showed how victims were killed inside one of the mosques. The shooter broadcast the live footage after publishing a manifesto in which he called immigrants "invaders."

Prime Minister Ardern called the shooting a "terrorist attack," and authorities advised all mosques in Christchurch to shut down until further notice.

World reaction 

U.S. President Donald Trump extended condolences on Twitter to New Zealanders and said, "The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do."

The attack has been condemned across the globe, with leaders from Pakistan, Turkey, Britain, Germany, Israel, Jordan, Japan and the European Union sending their condolences and offering support to New Zealand.

Violent crimes rare

Mass shootings, and violent crime in general, are rare in New Zealand, a country of nearly 5 million people. The country's worst mass shooting was in 1990 when a lone gunman killed 13 people in the small town of Aramoana. (VOA)

Indonesia Speeds Up Development in 4 Strategic Tourism Destinations

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono has expressed the Government’s commitment to improve infrastructure and facilities in four tourism strategic areas (KSPN), namely Lake Toba, Borobudur Temple, Labuan Bajo, and Mandalika.

Those four tourism strategic areas are part of the Twelve National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN) known as “the New Bali”.

Basuki added that with adequate infrastructure and facilities, it is expected that tourists will stay longer in Indonesia. He also said that infrastructure development in those areas also takes into account disaster risk management.

In the meantime, Head of Center for Strategic Areas Development (BPIW) of Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Hadi Sucahyono said that BPIW continued to coordinate with a number of related agencies such as the Geological Agency and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

“Infrastructure development in the KSPN is planned in an integrated manner, including by structuring the area, improving road access, providing raw water and clean water, managing waste and sanitation, and improving residents’ occupancy through an infrastructure development master plan prepared by the Regional Infrastructure Development Agency,” he said.

The master plan for the development of KSPN, he added, is made for the next ten years with more details made in a five-year plan, while an evaluation is carried out annually. “Key tourism areas become a top priority in our infrastructure development,” Hadi said.

“The focus is on the development of four KSPN given the number of tourists visiting the areas continues to increase. Investment is a key driver to boost economic potentials of the regions,” Hadi said, adding that infrastructure development is not only to attract tourists but also to improve quality of life of the communities and to boost local economic potentials.

“The Ministry supports the development of infrastructure that is not only beneficial for tourists but also for low-income communities,” Hadi added.

In Mandalika, the Government has made several efforts to re-structure Kuta village by repairing six roads, pavements, drainage systems, and public open spaces equipped with a playground that can be enjoyed by the locals.

The Government has also provided assistance for low-income communities with decent housings through 200 self-help housing programs in Central Lombok regency, which can be used as homestays. Moto GP circuit will also be built in Mandalika with the five-star hotel standard around the area.

In Lake Toba, the Government has improved access from Silangit airport to both the outer ring and the circumference in Lake Toba, including by dredging the river channel and building Tano Ponggol bridge as well as the Lumban Pea and Lumban Julu integrated rest area.

In Kampung Ujung, Labuan Bajo, which is the hub to cross to Komodo Island, eateries have been built, equipped with accessible roads and drainage.

In Borobudur Temple, the Government has revamped a number of tourist destinations near the temple such as Mendut Temple, Pawon Temple, and Puthuk Setumbu. The Government has also improved access from the new airport in Kulonprogo. (Setkab)

#UninstallBukalapak Campaign Can Hurt Indonesian E-Commerce

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - Coordinator of Special Staff to the President Teten Masduki said that President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is not angry on Bukalapak CEO Achmad Zaky’s controversial tweet.

“The President is not angry and accepts his (Zaky) apology,” Teten told reporters after accompanying President Jokowi in a meeting with Zaky at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Saturday (16/2). The President asked the CEO of Bukalapak to be more careful and despite the wrong data used, he agreed with the issue raised by Zaky.

Teten expressed hope that the meeting can stop the recent commotion which according to him is ‘economically unfavorable.’

The Government has provided a lot of support in terms of, for example, regulation and financing in order to help many start-up companies to grow. Therefore, the President is concerned that the recent #UninstallBukalapak hashtag movement on Twitter would hurt e-commerce business in Indonesia.

For the record, Bukalapak is one of the four Indonesian unicorns (start-up company with a current valuation of US$1 billion or more) that developed during the administration of President Jokowi. The other three are Go-jek (ride-hailing and logistic service), Traveloka (airline ticketing and hotel booking service), and Tokopedia (online marketplace).

“These four companies, which are also listed in 10 strongest startups in Southeast Asia, are our pride,” Teten said. (Setkab)

Gay Muslim Comic Gone From Instagram After Indonesia Warning

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - An Instagram account that published comic strips depicting the struggles of gay Muslims in Indonesia has disappeared from the site following a frenzy of moral outrage online in the world's biggest Muslim nation.

The Ministry of Communications said Wednesday that the account under the username Alpatuni was pornographic, which violated the law on information and electronic transactions. In a statement it said Instagram had “fulfilled” its request made in a warning letter for the account to be removed.

Instagram, however, said it had not removed the account. A spokeswoman said there were a number of reasons an account may no longer be accessible including the account holder deleting it, deactivating it or changing the username.

The comics depicted gay characters facing discrimination and abuse, which has become increasingly common in Indonesia since late 2015 when conservative politicians and religious leaders began a campaign of portraying lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as a threat to the nation.

An account of the same name on Facebook, which owns Instagram, was also no longer accessible.

The social media company is regularly in the crosshairs of regulators, rights groups and the public as it unsuccessfully tries to balance what CEO Mark Zuckerberg has called “giving people a voice” and demands for censorship of content posted on the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms.

Instagram's content guidelines, published in Indonesian, say the service is a mirror of the diversity of the community.

Human Rights Watch's Indonesia researcher Andreas Harsono criticized the government's demands that the account be blocked.

“That account describes mostly the problems of gay individuals in Indonesia. It's no secret that many LGBT individuals are arrested, their houses raided, some are sentenced to prison terms,” he said. “The Indonesian government does not help them in demanding the removal of that account.”

The communications ministry said it appreciated that members of the community reported the gay Muslim account, which “accelerated” its removal.

Some Indonesian netizens in turn congratulated the ministry. On Twitter, Fahmi Alfansi Pane, a policy analyst at the Indonesian parliament, thanked officials for “acting decisively” to protect public morality but also told The Associated Press he had never seen the comics.

Local media, quoting the communications minister, reported the ministry would block Instagram in Indonesia if the Alpatuni account wasn't removed.

The government frequently threatens to block Western social media and internet companies for content deemed illegal but has never taken such measures, possibly fearful of a public backlash due to the huge popularity of the services with Indonesians.

In 2017, it briefly and partially blocked the Telegram messaging app because of its failure to remove groups linked to violent jihad. (VOA)

Dozens Dead, Missing in South Sulawesi Floods and Landslides

MAKASSAR, LELEMUKU.COM - A disaster official says the number of people killed after days of torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides on South Sulawesi Province in Sulawesi island has climbed to 59 with 25 others missing.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman, says more bodies were recovered Friday as floodwaters and rainfall subsided in several areas.

Thirteen districts and cities in South Sulawesi province including the capital, Makassar, have been affected by flooding that began late Tuesday, forcing more than 3,000 people to flee their homes. Rescuers are still searching for 25 others.

Seasonal downpours cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, a chain of 17,000 islands where millions live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains. (VOA)

Two Quakes Strike off Indonesia’s Sumbawa

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 struck south of the Indonesian town of Raba, off the central island of Sumbawa, the U.S. Geological Survey said, the second quake to hit the area Tuesday.

There was no immediate tsunami warning or reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which hit at a depth of 36 km (22 miles), at a distance of about 230 km (143 miles) south of Raba in the east of the island, which forms part of West Nusa Tenggara province.

The quake followed one of magnitude 6 that struck in the same area. (VOA)

Indonesian Presidential Debate Highlights Disagreements

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - Indonesia’s presidential candidates are highlighting their disagreements on several topics, from corruption, bureaucratic system to combating terrorism, but also, on a more surprising note, showing a lot of similarities.

In an uneventful first presidential debate last week, the incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his opponent, the ex-military commander Prabowo Subianto, reiterated the visions they had previously announced.

“Both candidates’ visions aren’t totally different,” said Sirojudin Abbas, researcher at the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting, noting that the only difference between both candidates’ visions are different in a redactional sense. “In the context of Indonesia, both seem pragmatic ideologically.”

Similar to their 2014 campaigns (in which Prabowo lost), Prabowo’s campaign has been notable for its bent towards populism, especially since he promised to cut back on imports. Jokowi, meanwhile, pursues mostly the same points — infrastructure and targeted funding for villages.

Similar slogans

On the economy, Jokowi and Prabowo’s campaign slogans are similar: Indonesia Maju or Indonesia Progresses for the former and Indonesia Menang or Indonesia Wins for the latter. And both also champion economic self-sufficiency and the enhancement of the small-to-medium sized enterprises.

“We will provide subsidies and social assistance programs for those in need, to make sure that all Indonesians are able to fulfill their basic needs. We will build a high-quality infrastructure that can benefit all segments of society by not inflating project prices value. We will make sure that Government’s debt does not inflate, let alone jeopardize the State’s financial position,” Prabowo said in a speech announcing his visions.

Under Jokowi’s rule, Indonesia’s economy — propelled by robust infrastructure building — has stalled at 5 percent a year. Jokowi, for his part, says he will prepare seven action programs related to the economy, from asset redistribution, “ultra-micro” credit lending to the optimization of non-tax state income. Similar to Prabowo’s promise to fix Indonesia’s healthcare system — presently through the BPJS Kesehatan health insurance — Jokowi also vows to reform it, especially for the poor.

“Both candidates want economic self-sufficiency, welfare for all and the use of natural resources,” Abbas said.

Jokowi also vows to reform gender equality in all sectors, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Notably during the debate, Jokowi asked a question about the lack of women in Prabowo’s team while highlighting the equal appointments in Jokowi’s cabinet, including that of Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s foreign minister, and Susi Pudjiastuti, minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, and seven other female ministers.

The debate grew heated, as Prabowo responded by saying the negative policies enacted by his ministers, regardless of their genders, are the most important issue..

On corruption

Through the increase of Indonesia’s tax rate, currently at 16 percent, Prabowo vows to eradicate corruption, where Indonesia has long scored poorly on lists by international groups, by paying better wages to civil servants.

“The root of our problems with corruptions is that civil servants are paid very little,” Prabowo said. This echoes the point earlier made in the debate by Prabowo’s running mate, businessman Sandiaga Uno (and the former deputy governor of Jakarta): that justice is not only “for the rich,” Sandiaga said.

On the other hand, Jokowi reiterated his stance on meritocracy by noting that political party recruitment, often deemed as the most corrupt in Indonesia’s public sector, “should be based on competence.” Jokowi pointed out to Prabowo that the latter’s political party, Gerindra, nominated six candidates convicted of corruption for the legislative election.

On terrorism

Regarding terrorism, Prabowo cited his involvement in the forming of Indonesia’s first counter-terror unit, before noting the common misperception, according to him, that most of Indonesia’s terrorists “can be controlled by someone who’s not a Muslim,” he said. In fact, Islam was something of note during the discussions on terrorism.

Criticizing Prabowo’s statement, Sidney Jones, terrorism expert and director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, said in a tweet: “[we] can’t just relegate terrorism issues to foreign actors, there’s a homegrown problem that we need to understand.”

For his part, Jokowi delegated the bulk of his visions on terrorism to his vice presidential running mate Ma’ruf Amin, the renowned cleric and head of Indonesia’s Ulema Council or otherwise known as the MUI. Citing the fatwas issued by the MUI, Ma’ruf noted the deradicalization approach by his campaign will focus on a “humanitarian” approach. “If it was because of the misperception of religion, we should provide corrective measures to put radicals back on track,” he said. (VOA)

Indonesian Presidential Debate Highlights Disagreements

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - Indonesia’s presidential candidates are highlighting their disagreements on several topics, from corruption, bureaucratic system to combating terrorism, but also, on a more surprising note, showing a lot of similarities.

In an uneventful first presidential debate last week, the incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his opponent, the ex-military commander Prabowo Subianto, reiterated the visions they had previously announced.

“Both candidates’ visions aren’t totally different,” said Sirojudin Abbas, researcher at the Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting, noting that the only difference between both candidates’ visions are different in a redactional sense. “In the context of Indonesia, both seem pragmatic ideologically.”

Similar to their 2014 campaigns (in which Prabowo lost), Prabowo’s campaign has been notable for its bent towards populism, especially since he promised to cut back on imports. Jokowi, meanwhile, pursues mostly the same points — infrastructure and targeted funding for villages.

Similar slogans

On the economy, Jokowi and Prabowo’s campaign slogans are similar: Indonesia Maju or Indonesia Progresses for the former and Indonesia Menang or Indonesia Wins for the latter. And both also champion economic self-sufficiency and the enhancement of the small-to-medium sized enterprises.

“We will provide subsidies and social assistance programs for those in need, to make sure that all Indonesians are able to fulfill their basic needs. We will build a high-quality infrastructure that can benefit all segments of society by not inflating project prices value. We will make sure that Government’s debt does not inflate, let alone jeopardize the State’s financial position,” Prabowo said in a speech announcing his visions.

Under Jokowi’s rule, Indonesia’s economy — propelled by robust infrastructure building — has stalled at 5 percent a year. Jokowi, for his part, says he will prepare seven action programs related to the economy, from asset redistribution, “ultra-micro” credit lending to the optimization of non-tax state income. Similar to Prabowo’s promise to fix Indonesia’s healthcare system — presently through the BPJS Kesehatan health insurance — Jokowi also vows to reform it, especially for the poor.

“Both candidates want economic self-sufficiency, welfare for all and the use of natural resources,” Abbas said.

Jokowi also vows to reform gender equality in all sectors, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Notably during the debate, Jokowi asked a question about the lack of women in Prabowo’s team while highlighting the equal appointments in Jokowi’s cabinet, including that of Retno Marsudi, Indonesia’s foreign minister, and Susi Pudjiastuti, minister of maritime affairs and fisheries, and seven other female ministers.

The debate grew heated, as Prabowo responded by saying the negative policies enacted by his ministers, regardless of their genders, are the most important issue..

On corruption

Through the increase of Indonesia’s tax rate, currently at 16 percent, Prabowo vows to eradicate corruption, where Indonesia has long scored poorly on lists by international groups, by paying better wages to civil servants.

“The root of our problems with corruptions is that civil servants are paid very little,” Prabowo said. This echoes the point earlier made in the debate by Prabowo’s running mate, businessman Sandiaga Uno (and the former deputy governor of Jakarta): that justice is not only “for the rich,” Sandiaga said.

On the other hand, Jokowi reiterated his stance on meritocracy by noting that political party recruitment, often deemed as the most corrupt in Indonesia’s public sector, “should be based on competence.” Jokowi pointed out to Prabowo that the latter’s political party, Gerindra, nominated six candidates convicted of corruption for the legislative election.

On terrorism

Regarding terrorism, Prabowo cited his involvement in the forming of Indonesia’s first counter-terror unit, before noting the common misperception, according to him, that most of Indonesia’s terrorists “can be controlled by someone who’s not a Muslim,” he said. In fact, Islam was something of note during the discussions on terrorism.

Criticizing Prabowo’s statement, Sidney Jones, terrorism expert and director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, said in a tweet: “[we] can’t just relegate terrorism issues to foreign actors, there’s a homegrown problem that we need to understand.”

For his part, Jokowi delegated the bulk of his visions on terrorism to his vice presidential running mate Ma’ruf Amin, the renowned cleric and head of Indonesia’s Ulema Council or otherwise known as the MUI. Citing the fatwas issued by the MUI, Ma’ruf noted the deradicalization approach by his campaign will focus on a “humanitarian” approach. “If it was because of the misperception of religion, we should provide corrective measures to put radicals back on track,” he said. (VOA)

Radical Cleric Linked to Bali Bombing to Be Freed from Prison

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - A radical cleric thought to be the spiritual leader of the Bali bombers will be released from prison on medical grounds, Indonesia's president said Friday.

Abu Bakar Bashir, 80, is believed to have been a key figure in terror network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), which was blamed for the 2002 bombings on the holiday island which killed more than 200 people, mostly foreign tourists.

It was Indonesia's deadliest militant attack and prompted Jakarta to beef up anti-terror cooperation with the U.S. and Australia, which has previously opposed clemency for Bashir.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Friday that he had agreed to order the ailing preacher's release from a prison on the outskirts of the capital.

"The first reason is humanitarian," Widodo told reporters. "He is old ... and his health condition was also part of the consideration."

Widodo did not say when Bashir would be released, but one of the cleric's lawyers said it could be as early as next week.

Bashir, speaking from Gunung Sindur prison, welcomed the news.

"If I am released, I'll praise Allah," he told reporters, adding he was not hostile to the state.

In 2011, the firebrand preacher — once synonymous with militant Islam in Indonesia — was sentenced to 15 years in jail for helping fund a paramilitary group training in the conservative Islamic province of Aceh.

Bashir, the co-founder of an infamous Islamic boarding school known for producing militants, was jailed after authorities in the world's biggest Muslim majority country broke up the camp.

Several militants convicted over their involvement in the Bali bombings have been executed while two others, including Malaysian Noordin Mohammed Top, were killed in police raids in 2009 and 2010.

Bashir, who has repeatedly denied involvement in terror attacks, was also previously jailed over the Bali bombings but that conviction was quashed on appeal.

Militant-linked bombings

Al-Qaida-linked JI was founded by a handful of exiled Indonesian militants in Malaysia in the 1980s, and grew to include cells across Southeast Asia.

As well as the 2002 Bali bombings, the radical group was blamed for a deadly 2003 car bomb at the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta and a suicide car bomb the following year outside the Australian embassy.

An anti-terror crackdown weakened some of Indonesia's most dangerous networks, including Jemaah Islamiyah.

The Islamic State group proved to be a potent rallying cry for Indonesia's radicals, with hundreds traveling to the Middle East to join the jihadists.

Last year, a wave of deadly suicide bombings at churches and a police post rocked Indonesia's second biggest city Surabaya.

Those attacks were carried out by families — including children — linked to local extremist network Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, which has pledged allegiance to IS. (VOA)

Prayers for Sunda Strait Tsunami Victims Replace Christmas Celebrations

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - Christmas celebrations traditionally filled with laughter and uplifting music were replaced by somber prayers for tsunami victims in an area hit without warning following a volcanic eruption, leaving more than 420 people dead and thousands homeless in disaster-prone Indonesia.

Pastor Markus Taekz said Tuesday that his Rahmat Pentecostal Church in the hard-hit area of Carita did not celebrate with joyous songs this year. Instead, only about 100 people showed up for the Christmas Eve service, which usually brings in double that number. Many congregation members had already left the area for the capital, Jakarta, or other locations away from the disaster zone.

"This is an unusual situation because we have a very bad disaster that killed hundreds of our sisters and brothers in Banten," Taekz said, referring to the province on Java island. "So our celebration is full of grief."

Church leaders called on Christians across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, to pray for victims of the tsunami.

The death toll climbed to 429 on Tuesday, with more than 1,400 people injured and at least 128 missing after the tsunami in the Sunda Strait slammed into parts of western Java and southern Sumatra islands on Saturday night, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency.

He said more than 16,000 people were displaced and that there was an urgent need for heavy equipment in the Sumur subdistrict, a remote area near Ujung Kulon National Park that experienced heavy damage. Some villages there have been cut off due to damaged roads and bridges, making it difficult to supply aid and reach people who may be injured or trapped.

Unlike most tsunamis, this time there was no large earthquake to warn people to run to higher ground before the waves arrived. Instead, an eruption of the infamous volcanic island Anak Krakatau appears to have triggered a landslide on its slope, which then sent displaced seawater racing.

Residents remained jittery and fearful of lingering near the coast. In at least two separate areas Tuesday, panicked residents ran toward higher ground because they believed another tsunami was coming.

People in Sumur remained stunned by how quickly the tsunami hit without warning. Sumur beach, located just a few kilometers (miles) from the tourist island of Umang near Java's western tip, is popular for snorkeling and other water activities. The tsunami clobbered the area, ripping houses from their foundations and bulldozing concrete buildings.

Scientists have said the tsunami's waves were recorded in several places at about 1 meter (3.3 feet) high, but villagers in Sumur insisted they were more than 3 meters (10 feet) high there. They said a soaring white wall of water roared forward at high speeds, ripping trees out of the ground by their roots.
Tati Hayati, a housewife, said she was enjoying the full moon near the beach with 10 other people when the disaster hit.

"There was no sign of a tsunami when we were at the beach. The sea didn't recede," she recalled. "It was calm and bright with the full moon."

When she spotted high, fast-moving waves launching toward the shore, she ran to her car and managed to get inside. But she couldn't outrun it. The car was struck by three waves, breaking out the back window and filling the vehicle with gushing water.

"We were locked inside. The car was swaying in the waves and we thought we would all die," she said. "We almost could not breathe and I almost gave up when I groped the key in the water and managed to open the door, and the water began to recede. We got out of the car and ran to safety."

Military troops, government personnel and volunteers continued searching along debris-strewn beaches. Yellow, orange and black body bags were laid out where victims were found, and weeping relatives identified the dead. Many searched for missing loved ones at hospital morgues.

The lead singer of the Indonesian pop band Seventeen located the body of his dead wife after posting emotional posts on social media, vowing that he would not leave her. The group was performing at a beach hotel when the tsunami was captured on video smashing into their stage, killing several band members and crew.

The waves followed an eruption and apparent landslide on Anak Krakatau, or "Child of Krakatoa," a volcanic island that formed in the early part of the 20th century near the site of the cataclysmic 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who faces what promises to be a tough re-election campaign next year, vowed to have all tsunami-detection equipment replaced or repaired.

Nugroho, the disaster agency spokesman, acknowledged on Twitter that the country's network of detection buoys had been out of order since 2012 because of vandalism and budget shortfalls.

But the head of Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, Dwikorita Karnawati, said the tsunami was likely caused by Krakatau's volcanic activity and so could not have been picked up by the agency's sensors, which monitor conventional earthquakes responsible for more than 90 percent of Indonesia's tsunamis.

Karnawati said the tsunami was probably caused by the collapse of a big section of the volcano's slope. Anak Krakatau has been erupting since June and did so again 24 minutes before the tsunami, the geophysics agency said. Other scientists have said an underwater landslide may also have contributed to the disaster.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and home to 260 million people, lies along the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.

The massive eruption of Krakatoa killed more than 30,000 people and hurled so much ash that it turned day to night in the area and reduced global temperatures.

Just this past September, thousands were believed killed by a quake and tsunami that hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island. A quake on the island of Lombok killed 505 people in August.

Saturday's disaster came ahead of the anniversary of the massive Asian tsunami that hit Dec. 26, 2004, after a magnitude 9.1 earthquake off Sumatra island spawned huge waves. The giant wall of water killed some 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them in Indonesia. (VOA)

More Than 160 Killed in Lampung and Banten as Tsunami Strikes Sunda Straits

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - A tsunami struck beaches along Indonesia’s Sunda Straits late Saturday local time. The death toll has risen to 168people with about 745 injured, the country’s disaster agency said Sunday.

The casualties occurred in three regions — South Lampung, Lampung Province in Sumatra and the Serang and Pandeglang regions of Banten Province in Java Island, west of the capital Jakarta — along the Sunda Strait, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNBP), said in a statement.

Hundreds of homes, nine hotels and 10 boats were damaged, BNBP said Sunday.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported an eruption of Krakatoa, a local volcano, about 9 p.m. Saturday local time, and the tsunami struck a short time later, about 9:30 p.m.

The cause of the tsunami was the result of a combination of undersea landslides after the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatoa and the tidal wave caused by the full moon,according to BMKG.

The number of casualties is expected to rise because officials have not been able to contact all the areas affected by the tsunami, the statement said. A highway connecting Serang and Pandeglang had also been damaged.

Disaster agency head Endan Permana told local media that many people were missing in tourist locale of Tanjung Lesung, Banten province, near Jakarta, and that police were providing assistance, as emergency workers had not yet arrived in the area, according to Reuters news agency.

On Sept. 28, a quake and tsunami that hit near the city of Palu, on the island of Sulawesi, killed more than 2,500 and displaced about 70,000.

On Dec. 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. (VOA)

Jokowi Claims Freeport Indonesia's Divestment is an Impressive Progress

JAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - President Joko Widodo responded to the comments made by some parties who considered that the divestment of 51 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI)’s shares to the Government of Indonesia through state-owned mining holding company PT Indonesia Asahan Alumunium (Inalum) has not been binding.

The President went on to explain that first process must be the Head of Agreement (HoA), which will be followed up by a second, third agreement, and so on.

“I need to say, the deal took a long process of almost 3.5 years, almost 4 years and this is very tough. If it can get into the Head of Agreement, it has been a very impressive progress,” the President told reporters after giving a public lecture on the 2nd Batch of National Defense Training of Democratic National (Nasdem) Party, in the Nasdem National Defense Academy Building, Pancoran, Jakarta, on Monday (16/7).

The President asserted that it does not mean that the agreement is directly signed, as the negotiation took a long process of 3.5 years.

“Thanks to God, we are grateful for the progress,” the President firmly said.

As reported earlier, the Government of Indonesia through PT Inalum with Freeport-McMoran Inc. (FCX) and Rio Tinto have signed the Head of Agreement related to the sale of FCX shares and Rio Tinto’s participation rights in PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) to Inalum, at the Ministry of Finance, Jakarta, on Thursday (12/7).

“The Inalum’s share ownership in PTFI after the sale of shares and rights is now 51 percent from the previous figure of 9.36 percent,” Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati told a press conference at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday (12/7) afternoon.

According to Sri, under the Agreement, Inalum will spend 3.85 billion USD to obtain Rio Tinto’s participation right in PTFI and 100 percent of FCX at PT Indocopper Investama, which owns 9.36 percent of PTFI’s shares.

“The parties will complete this sale before the end of 2018,” Sri said. Meanwhile, Minister of  Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan added that, with the signing of this Agreement, the whole agreement with FCX, which includes divestment of 51 percent shares, changes from Contract of Work to the Special Mining Permit (IUPK) have been completed including the commitment to building smelter facilities. (Setkab)

Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Builds a Fighter Mentality for Papua and Maluku

YOGYAKARTA, LELEMUKU.COM - The Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas) Representative Office for Papua and Maluku (Pamalu) Region, Oil and Gas Contractors operating in Pamalu Region and University of Proklamasi 45 of Yogyakarta organized a capacity building activity, titled “The Ambassador” for students from Pamalu.

The theme of the event, which was held on Monday, 28 May 2018 in Yogyakarta was “Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Builds a Fighter Mentality”.

“The main objective of this event is to build a fighter mentality among students,” Head of SKK Migas’ Representative Office for Pamalu Region, A. Rinto Pudyantoro revealed.

Currently, there is a quite significant number of students from Pamalu Region who are studying in Yogyakarta. This activity aims to equip them with soft skills so that when they return home they can become an ambassador of change in their community.

The event was attended by approximately 220 participants, 170 of whom are students from Pamalu Region who study at UGM, UPN Veteran, STTNas, UP45, and UST Akprind. At the event, they had the opportunity to listen to motivational speakers from the representatives of upstream oil and gas contractors and SKK Migas from Pamalu Region and inspiring figures from Maluku on achieving higher.

They also declared their commitment to complete their study in a timely manner with outstanding academic achievement. The participants could also learn how to develop other soft skills needed to become an ambassador of change for themselves, their family, their region, the country.

The event features a presentation on the introduction to the upstream oil and gas industry with the main focus on the upstream oil and gas operations in Pamalu Region.

Rector of the University of Proklamasi 45 of Yogyakarta, Ir Bambang Irjanto, MBA welcomed the conduct of this event and emphasized the importance for students from Pamalu to respect their origins.

“We expect that the students will have global insights but at the same time, they do not forget their origin,” he said. (HumasSKKMigas)

Upstream Oil and Gas Industry in Papua and Maluku Opens Migas Corner at Universitas Pattimura

AMBON, LELEMUKU.COM - SKK Migas’ Representative Office for Papua and Maluku (Pamalu) Region and Oil and Gas Contractors operating in the region opened Migas Corner (Oil and Gas Corner) at Universitas Pattimura (Unpatti) on Thursday (24/5) in Ambon, Mollucas Province. 

The Migas Corner, located on the 3rd floor of Unpatti Library was officially inaugurated by Rector of Unpatti, Prof. Dr. M. J. Saptenno S.H., M. Hum. and Head of SKK Migas’ Representative of Pamalu Region, DR A. Rinto Pudyantoro MM CA., AK.

“Migas Corner is a form of our commitment to continually contribute to the academic environment, especially universities,” Rinto revealed.

This Migas Corner will be filled with a collection of literature on the upstream oil and gas industry, profiles of Oil and Gas Contractors operating in Pamalu Region, and audio-visual materials on relevant topics. “Hopefully, this Migas Corner can be an information center for Unpatti lecturers and students who are interested in learning more about the upstream oil and gas industry,” Rinto added.

Unpatti Rector Prof. Dr. M. J. Saptenno S.H., M.Hum. supports the presence of Migas Corner at Unpatti. The presence of Migas Corner is expected to help improve the understanding of the people in Maluku Province with respect to the upstream oil and gas industry operation processes.

“The presence of Migas Corner is expected to help people understand the importance of oil and gas energy,” the rector said.

Unpatti itself has initiated efforts to improve the quality of human resources related to petroleum. In 2017, Unpatti opened Department of Geological Engineering. The total number of students taking the major is 15 people and all of them receive scholarships from the Government. In this 2018 admission, in addition to the Department of Geological Engineering, Unpatti will open admission for students of Department of Geophysical Engineering and Department of Petroleum Engineering.

“Hopefully, by 2019 we will have opened Faculty of Energy and Petroleum,” DR Muspida M. Si, Vice Rector of Unpatti for Planning, Cooperation and Information Systems, told.

On the same day, SKK Migas’ Representative Office for Pamalu Region and Oil and Gas Contractors in that region also held a guest lecture at Unpatti. In the guest lecture session, Oil and Gas Contractors of Pamalu Region had the opportunity to present profiles and operational activities in their respective working areas.

Rinto said that this guest lecture activity is the beginning of the Upstream Oil and Gas Teaching program initiated by the SKK Migas’ Representative Office of Pamalu Region. Through the Upstream Oil and Gas Teaching activities, people working in the upstream oil and gas industry from various disciplines will be present in the lecture classes at Unpatti.

“With the Upstream Oil and Gas Teaching Program, the presence of the upstream oil and gas industry at the campus will be more intensive and frequent,” Rinto concluded. (HumasSKKMigas)

SKK Migas Pamalu Holds a Media Gathering in Ambon

AMBON, LELEMUKU.COM - SKK Migas and Oil and Gas Contractors of Papua and Maluku (Pamalu) Region, held a media gathering on Wednesday, (23/5) in Ambon, Maluku Province. 

The theme of the event, which was attended by 19 journalists from Papua and Maluku region and public relations practitioners from Oil and Gas Contractors is “Upstream Oil and Gas: Then, Now and For Better Tomorrow”.

Head of the SKK Migas Representative Office for Pamalu Region, A. Rinto Pudyantoro said that besides aiming to build a relationship with the media crew, this activity also aims to provide an opportunity for SKK Migas, Oil and Gas Contractors, and media crew to review the performance of the upstream oil and gas industry in the past, now, and in the upcoming days. 

“We have to take note on what has been done in the past and from that note we can then evaluate what we can improve in the future,” Rinto revealed.

The event also announced that SKK Migas and Oil and Gas Contractors of Pamalu Region would hold a Journalistic Writing Competition for journalists in Pamalu Region. Head of Public Relations Department of SKK Migas’ Representative of Pamalu Region, Galih W. Agusetiawan, informed that the media gathering is one of the series of activities. Earlier on 11 May 2018, field trips to operational areas in Bula and Seram were conducted. 

The second activity is the media gathering held today. The next events as part of the series of activities will be the Journalistic Writing Competition and Memoir Book Writing which tells the performance of some Oil and Gas Contractors of Pamalu Region whose contracts are about to expire.

 “This series of activities aims to provide more public information related to upstream oil and gas activities in Pamalu region,” Galih concluded. (HumasSKKMigas)

The 2018 Darwin to Saumlaki Yacht Race Ready to be Held

SAUMLAKI, LELEMUKU.COM - Darwin Sailing Club will held its annual event of Yacht Race and Rally from Darwin, Territory of the Northern Australia to Saumlaki, West Maluku Regency, Maluku Province on 30th June 2018.

According to the chairman of Saumlaki Yacht Race Committee, Lucille Panting, the purpose of this yacht race and rally is providing an opportunity for the participants to see how beautiful Tanimbar Islands is, which has a unigue culture and remain a major centre for the production of traditional crafts like ikat cloth and carved wooden statues in Maluku, and also have their own forms of music and dance.

"We will start on 30th of June and we arrive here on 2nd or 3th of July. This sailing will be taken two days of trip or 48 hours to arrive here (Saumlaki)," She told to Lelemuku.com, on Thursday (17/05).

Lucille reveals the reason for choosing the Tanimbar Islands as the destination of the voyage because of the distance from Tanimbar that is so close to Darwin City that is separated by the Arafura Sea. It's more advantageous than taking a trip to Ambon City or Dilli City, East Timor which takes up to 4 days of travel, while to Tanimbar only 2 days.

In addition to the close distance, the beauty of Tanimbar sea is also a reason for this sailing club to do snorkeling and swimming. And the same weather is the reason, where the location of Darwin City itself is relatively close to the equator line, then this city is the only major city in Australia which has tropical climate like Indonesia.

"We want to come here because Tanimbar is so close to our country, save from marine predator animals, friendly community, diving and swimming location is also very good and has the same weather with darwin," she said.

Lucille ensures that there are currently about 12 fleets of sailboats that will be involved in the race. His party is still open registration for interested participants until May 29, 2018.

"This is a trial between 10 to 15 boats, but not sure, we estimate about 12 boatss that have been registered," she explained.

Constraints of the implementation of the 2018 Darwin Saumlaki Yatch Race is the weather, which is too windy so it can affect the number of boats involved, because there are some small boats that can not withstand the wind.

"Last year on October cruise was not windy, so we chose this July because it was windy, but now it's just too much wind. This activity still roads just a few boats may fall because of its small size, for that we will be back to determine how many boats will come," Lucille added. (Laura Sobuber)

Artists with Mental Disability Exhibit Murals in Jakarta National Gallery

JAKARTA - Seven artists with mental disability exhibited murals that they painted on various mediums such as tents, cafe walls and umbrellas in the National Gallery in Jakarta, Monday.

    

The exhibition was a part of the series towards the Limitless Festival, an art festival presented by disabled artists, scheduled to be held in October.

    

Mentor for Disability Arts Timotius Suwarsito said that they chose the theme 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' which means Unity in Diversity for this year's mural creations.

    

"They have varying communication skills, some of them are quick to comprehend what 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' is, while some other took some time. We then gave them examples of how Bhinneka Tunggal Ika could be visualized," he said.

    

Most of the artists responded to the theme of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika with butterflies of different colours, while some chose to do collages.

    

He further stated that the artists indeed had different approaches, from doodle art murals, naive styles and decorative.

    

The artists involved include Claire Nicole Siregar, Calliandra Alexa Roshetko, Aziza Mischa Azalia, Shan Rafael Saputra, Audrel Christabel Angesty, Anfield Wibowo, and Dwi Putri Mulyono Jati.

    

Art Brut Indonesia Community Activist Nawa Tunggal said the painters have great passion as they painted from Saturday (May 12) to Monday (May 14).

    

"They are working from morning to dawn to create their art. Their spirit is amazing," he said.

    

He further said that art could become a good medium for mental disabilities, especially to express their emotions. They could even reach a more stable condition with art. (*)