Covid-19 & Security Concerns
Some communities in the regions have reportedly rejected the burial of COVID-19 victims. There was also a prison riot in Manado, North Sulawesi. But above all that, the ongoing security concern is the spread of hoaxes during the pandemic. Hoaxes cannot be trivialized...
Attack on Luhut
The Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs General (ret) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has been harshly blamed for the Government’s COVID-19 mitigation policies. Indeed, Luhut has been a target of criticisms even before the pandemic.
TNI AU, Indonesia-Russia’s Deals & US Election
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) celebrated its 74th anniversary on Thursday (April 9) in a very humble ceremony in view of the COVID-19 pandemic protocol. In his speech delivered at the event, the Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Air Chief Marshal Yuyu Sutisna said that the main focus of the Air Force is to strengthen and modernize its primary weapons system (Alutsista), including the procurement of jet fighters, and reorganization. So, what about the future of the deals between Indonesia and Russian in the purchase of 11 units of the Sukhoi’s 4.5 generation Su-35 fighters?
People behind the COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force
We’ve written extensively about the head of the COVID-19 Mitigation Task Force Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo, who is also the chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Now, let’s talk about those assisting him in the said task force.
SBY on Jokoway Covid-19 Mitigation Policy
Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who is also the supreme leader of the Democratic Party, has been actively criticizing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration. Recently, through his personal Facebook account, SBY posted a note, basically asking why President Jokowi bypassed the House of Representatives (DPR) in issuing a massive special stimulus for the mitigation of COVID-19 pandemic. Other than that, SBY also criticized the threat of jail sentence for anyone defaming the President and State officials during the pandemic.
PAN’s Internal Power Struggle Continues
The National Mandate Party under the leadership of Zulkifli Hasan decided to remove Mulfachri Harahap from the position of deputy head of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III and chose Pangeran Khairul Saleh as the replacement. Mulfachri, who was Zulkifli’s strongest contender in the Party’s latest chairmanship congress, had previously been excluded from the Party’s new lineup.
General Doni Monardo (2)
It is not time to talk about Jakarta’s 2022 gubernatorial election, or the 2024 presidential election with the COVID-19 still spreading. But the Chief of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Doni Monardo, who is also the head of Covid-19 Mitigation Task Force, could emerge as an alternative figure for the said elections.
COVID-19: Jakarta Today
Minister of Health Terawan has reportedly approved the Jakarta Government’s request for the application of Large-Scale Social Restrictions in the Capital City—the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia. Kompas reported the news earlier today, quoting the Ministry of Health’s Spokesperson Busroni. Tempo, however, reported just a few hours before Kompas that the Minister of Health had not approved DKI’s request because Terawan still needed a few more documents attached.
A New Dynamic in the Capital
As predicted, Ahmad Riza Patria, a politician from Prabowo Subianto’s Gerindra Party, won the vice governorship race. He defeated the nominee of PKS—PKS was Gerindra’s ally. So, the capital city now has a new vice governor, after almost two years have passed since...
Jokowi-Ahok, new capital city, and Coronavirus lockdown
Somehow, those aggressively urged President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo to implement a draconian lockdown to contain the Coronavirus outbreak are the same people refusing the president’s idea to move the capital city from Jakarta to Penajam Paser Utara regency in East...