Sinking Feeling in Jakarta

The Indonesian capital, Jakarta, faces a double threat as seas rises from climate change and land sinks from untrammeled development and illegal wells that are draining its aquifers.

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Source: Sinking Feeling in Jakarta

Five Jakarta hotels to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s Eve

Beautifully decorated Christmas trees adorn every corner of every mall, Michael Buble's holiday album is playing on repeat and soon, we'll be welcoming the New Year.

And as per usual, Jakarta hotels are all geared up for the holidays with special promotions for Christmas and New Year dining experiences.

Here's our list of five-star hotels in the capital offering amazing deals on sumptuous holiday feasts.

Hotel Mulia Senayan

This festive season, Mulia Hotel Senayan is offering promotions for Christmas buffet dinners at its range of top-rated restaurants, including The Café, Orient8, il Mare, Edogin and Cascade.

As for Table8, the restaurant will be serving both a buffet and a set menu package.

On Dec. 25, Orient8 and il Mare will serve Christmas brunch, while late risers can head down to The Café, Table8 and Edogin restaurants for Christmas lunch.

On Dec. 24-25, bring your children to the hotel's ground floor to meet Santa Claus and pose for pictures with him.

As for New Year's Eve, British singer Louisa Johnson is set to perform at the hotel's Grand Ballroom.

Contact: 021 574 7777

Read also: How to stick to your New Year's resolution

Mandarin Oriental

Situated in the heart of Jakarta, Mandarin Oriental is offering Christmas brunch, dinner and buffet packages.

The buffet package can be enjoyed at Cinnamon restaurant for Rp 398,000++ (US$29.30) per person. Available for lunch and dinner, guests can enjoy Christmas Carol performances while savoring delicious holiday dishes.

Meanwhile, Lyon restaurant will be serving a French Christmas feast with prices starting from Rp 630,000 per person.  

Those who want to celebrate New Year's Eve in the heart of the city can join the hotel's Night at Carnival event. Priced at Rp 998,000++ per person, the package includes a New Year's Eve buffet and access to the New Year's Eve countdown party.

Contact: 021 2993 8800

Raffles Jakarta

Arts Café by Raffles at Raffles Jakarta hotel. (Raffles Jakarta/File)

The five-star Raffles Jakarta at Ciputra World 1, South Jakarta, is celebrating Christmas with special dinner and brunch buffet promotions on Dec. 24-25 at Arts Café by Raffles. Savor the restaurant's tantalizing seasonal menu for Rp 688,000++ per person.

Raffles Jakarta will also be offering New Year's Eve packages that include a buffet dinner at Arts Café by Raffles and entrance to the Countdown Party at Navina Pool bar.

Contact: 021 2988 0888

Read also: Extra seats prepared for Christmas, New Year holidays

The Dharmawangsa

As usual, the Dharmawangsa Hotel in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, is reaching new culinary heights celebrating the festive season at its Jakarta Restaurant.

For Christmas Eve, the restaurant will be serving a dinner buffet comprising caviar, smoked fish, traditional Christmas turkey as well as Black Angus beef tenderloin. The buffet is priced at Rp 595,000++ for adults and Rp 345,000++ for children up to 11 years old.

On Christmas day, it will offer a Christmas Day brunch buffet priced at Rp 495,000++ for children and Rp 895,000++ for adults. The little ones will also have the chance to meet Santa Claus.

As part of Jakarta Restaurant's New Year's celebration, enjoy dinner and brunch promotions featuring an array of mouthwatering dishes from around the globe. The dinner package will a caviar and oyster selection, a Spanish tapas station, traditional kambing guling (grilled lamb) and more.

As for New Year's brunch, the restaurant aims to pamper your taste buds with an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (Controlled Name of Origin) cheese selection, a seafood market, a carving station with roasted, French milk-fed lamb leg with eggplant caviar, and a dessert collection that comprises a macaroon tower and the longest mille-feuille (French vanilla pastry) in town.

Contact: 021 725 8181

Fairmont Jakarta

Fairmont Jakarta's festive cookies. (Fairmont Jakarta/File)

This holiday season, the Fairmont Hotel's Spectrum restaurant is offering Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch buffets at Rp 708,000++ per person. Meanwhile, Christmas Day dinner is also available at Rp 488,000++ per person.

If you're craving Italian, schedule a visit to Sapori Deli, where guests can enjoy an Italian Christmas dinner or brunch for Rp 488,000 per person.

Welcome 2018 with a view of Jakarta's nightscape at Fairmont Hotel's K22 Bar on Dec. 31. For only Rp 400,000++ per person, you can enjoy a welcome cocktail, a glass of sparkling and a DJ performance prior to the New Year countdown.

Table or Sofa packages are also available starting from Rp 3.5 million per table.

Fairmont's other dining destinations, namely View Restaurant & Bar, Spectrum and Sapori Deli are also offering special promotions.

Contact: 021 2970 3333

Source: Five Jakarta hotels to celebrate Christmas, New Year's Eve

Justin Rose wins Indonesian Masters by eight shots in Jakarta

Justin Rose had 31 birdies and an eagle over the four rounds in JakartaIndonesian Masters final leaderboard-29 J Rose (Eng); -21 P Khongwatmai (Tha); -19 S Vincent (Zim); -18 Y Miyazato (Jpn); -17 K Aphibarnrat (Tha)Selected others: -14 S Lewton (Eng); -5 W Harrold (Eng) (am)

World number six Justin Rose won the Indonesian Masters by eight shots in Jakarta to seal his third tournament victory in seven weeks.

The Englishman, 37, had to finish 10 holes of his third round on Sunday and carded a six-under 66 to lead by three.

Rose then posted eight birdies and an eagle in the first 13 holes of his final round, closing with his second 62 of the week and a 29-under total.

Phachara Khongwatmai, the 18-year-old from Thailand, hit 65 to finish second.

Khongwatmai became the youngest winner of a professional golf tournament when he took the Sing Hua Hin Open title two months after his 14th birthday in 2013, and his only dropped shots this week came with a double bogey on the second hole of his first round.

Find out how to get into golf with our special guide.

Bad weather affected the event at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club and lightning storms led to play being suspended twice on the final day.

But Rose, who led Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent going into the final round, had four consecutive birdies from the fifth before an eagle three at the ninth - and was in contention for a 59 until dropping a shot at the par four 16th.

"That's my largest ever winning margin at a tournament," he said of his first Asian Tour title.

"To come here with my game in good shape and to deal with the jetlag, deal with the rain delays, to stay focused all four rounds, is something I'm very pleased about."

Englishman Steve Lewton, the Asian Tour-based world number 1,063, finished with a 66 and a 14-under total, which earned him a share of eighth place.

Source: Justin Rose wins Indonesian Masters by eight shots in Jakarta

Jakarta to continue to wage war against drugs: governor

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan affirmed that no compromises will be made in the fight against drugs, reiterating his stance to ensure that places operating as hubs for the circulation of illegal drugs are shut down.

"This should serve as a warning for everyone. Jakarta will continue its fight against drugs," he noted at the City Hall on Tuesday.

Baswedan further emphasized that he did not want to compromise on locations, such as the recently raided MC nightclub, where illegal drugs were being circulated and stored in a liquid methamphetamine laboratory.

"This has gone too far. It is a different matter if, for instance, people come in carrying drugs clandestinely, and the place comes under the scanner. However, in this case, all the workers were also involved," Baswedan pointed out.

Baswedan opined that firm action should be taken to shut down such places, adding that he had ordered to close and revoke the business licenses of MG Club.

"I would like to remind everyone to not play games. We will not compromise and will take decisive action if the need arises. One of the biggest threats to the future of our nation is that drugs are currently destroying our younger generation," he remarked.

Baswedan believes that without firm action, the problems caused by illegal drugs will have an even wider impact. Additionally, he has given an opportunity to places still circulating drugs to immediately make changes.

"We will continue to cooperate with the Anti-Drugs Body. Last week, I had met its chief Budi Waseso and told him about the cooperation, and he responded positively, so we will follow the steps that are being taken by the body," he stated.

Earlier, MG International Club, located on the Tubagus Angke Street, West Jakarta, was raided by the Anti-Drugs Body, as it had been operating since the past two years as a factory to process methamphetamine and ecstasy in liquid form.

Source: Jakarta to continue to wage war against drugs: governor

Thousands rally in Jakarta against US Jerusalem move

Protesters in Jakarta rallied to condemn the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital [Darren Whiteside/Reuters]

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied outside the US embassy in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, against President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Sunday's protest was the fourth and largest mass rally in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, since Trump's announcement on Jerusalem's status on December 6. 

An estimated 80,000 protesters called on Trump to stop his plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Al Jazeera's Dessi Arianti, reporting from the protest in Jakarta, said that many of the marchers travelled from out of town to show solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

"Men, women and children, carrying Palestinian flags and banners, condemned the US move while rallying at the National Monument in Jakarta at sunrise on Sunday," Arianti said.

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"Many people, wearing white Muslim robes, held hands in prayers and called on Israel to leave Palestinian soil. Indonesia has been a long-time supporter of independent Palestine. Protesters called for a resolution to end the conflict and vowed to continue fighting for the cause," our correspondent said.

Anwar Abbas, a top scholar from the Indonesian Council of Ulema, read a petition calling on Indonesians to stop buying American products until Trump revoked his move.

"Don't rely on their products," he said, as the crowd - including men, women and children - responded by waving Indonesian and Palestinian flags and shouting "boycott!"

Previous anti-American protests have unsuccessfully lobbied for a boycott of US goods.

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said the protesters marched peacefully about 3km from the National Monument Park to the US embassy.

Some local media reported that the number of demonstrators was double the police estimate.

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About 20,000 security forces were deployed to secure the rally.

In the petition, the leaders and scholars urged Trump to immediately revoke his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital because it has hurt international justice, violated Palestinians' human rights and undermined peace efforts.

It also demanded nations not follow the US in moving their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency session to discuss Trump's declaration.

The chairman of the Muslim leaders' council, Ma'ruf Amin, said: "Let's fight together with the government and the world for the freedom of Palestine through political, diplomatic and economic ways."

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has strongly condemned Trump's move as a violation of UN resolutions.

Indonesia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and has long been a strong supporter of Palestinian aspirations for statehood.

Trump's announcement overturned decades of US policy, and a long-standing international consensus, that the fate of Jerusalem be decided as part of a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians.

Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city's eastern sector form the core of their conflict, and Trump's announcement was seen as siding with the Israelis.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies

Source: Thousands rally in Jakarta against US Jerusalem move

6.5 quake jolts Jakarta, no Tsunami alert for New Zealand

There is no Tsunami alert in New Zealand after a 6.5 magnitude quake struck Indonesia's Java island on Saturday.The temblor hit the main island of Java shortly before 6am New Zealand time this morning, the US Geological Survey said.Buildings and towers in Jakarta were swayed and the tremor was measured at a depth of about 90km, an English daily The New Zealand Herald said.There was no immediate reports of casualties or tsunami threats in Indonesia.Powerful tremors lasted as much as 30 seconds in places.UNI XC SV 0907

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0103-1173328.Xml

Source: 6.5 quake jolts Jakarta, no Tsunami alert for New Zealand

Jakarta governor declares flood alert

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has instructed the Jakarta provincial administration to stay alert, calling on the capital city's inhabitants to remain vigilant for signs of flooding.

"This morning, I instructed all staff to be alert, and I've called on all residents to anticipate heavy rain and lightning, particularly in East and South Jakarta," Baswedan said here, Friday.

Based on the weather forecast issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Jakarta is expected to be hit by a downpour and lightning this evening.

"This is the weather forecast from the BMKG. Heavy rain is expected in the afternoon and evening today. We should anticipate it to prevent problems," he remarked.

Jakarta was hit by flooding on Monday (Dec 11), but the floodwaters subsided relatively quickly.

The Indonesian capital city has 145 housing pumps, 152 immobile pumps, and 150 mobile pumps to mitigate the impact of floods.

The governor noted that despite the ongoing infrastructure construction in Jakarta, waterways should be kept free to prevent flooding.

Meanwhile, La Niña has strengthened over the past month, as indicated by an increasingly prominent pattern of below-average sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, according to a La Nina advisory issued by the US Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific Ocean also reflects the activity of La Niña, with convection being suppressed near the International Date Line and enhanced over Indonesia.

Overall, the ocean and atmosphere system reflects La Niña, which is predicted to persist through the Northern Hemisphere's winter for 2017-18.

Source: Jakarta governor declares flood alert

Netizens alarmed over Jakarta radio temporary shutdown

Private radio stations in Jakarta were temporarily shut down on Monday morning.

On social media, radio stations across Jakarta uploaded a photo, encouraging listeners to respond to the dead air with the hashtag #radioguemati (my radio is dead).

The silence was responded to with various tweets.  

Read also: Ed Sheeran is tired of hearing 'Shape Of You' on the radio

The shutdown started at 7:45 a.m. After 15 minutes of silence, all of the stations began on air with remarks from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

The President said, "Emang enak enggak ada radio? Saya Joko Widodo, pendengar radio. [It is not fun without radio, right? I am Joko Widodo and (I am) a radio listener]".

Ratri Taluningtias, a public relations officer from Masima Radio Network, the parent company of Prambors Delta FM and Bahana FM,  told The Jakarta Post via messaging app that the shutdown was initiated by the Indonesian National Private Radio Association (PRSSNI) Jakarta.

The association chose Monday as Radio Day 2017 campaign, requiring all radio stations in Jakarta to go to dead air for 15 minutes and post on social media with the hashtag #radioguemati.

The campaign aimed to encourage people to listen to the radio and to inform advertisers that radio was an effective platform to place ads.

Ratri said the campaign received positive feedback, as many of the radio's loyal listeners sent direct messages on social media or to the announcers, asking why the stations suddenly went silent. (kes)

Source: Netizens alarmed over Jakarta radio temporary shutdown

Bekasi fails to get grant from Jakarta

The Bekasi administration in the eastern part of greater Jakarta, has failed to get a financial grant from the capital for next year, a contrast to this year, when the West Java city got Rp 250 billion (US$1.75 million).

This year's grant, which was disbursed under the leadership of Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, was used to fund bridge construction, which would support the operations of Bantar Gebang trash disposal site.

Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi said that during a meeting with the Jakarta Deputy Governor, he proposed nearly Rp 1 trillion in funds for programs to mitigate floods and traffic jams in the city, which were deeply connected to Jakarta, and expected to get at least Rp 350 billion, tempo.co reported.

"We agree to establish a small team for now and the grant was postponed," the mayor said on Tuesday. "Maybe we'll get it later next year, in the [Jakarta] budget revision," he added.

Bekasi, however, would still receive Rp 202 billion from Jakarta, which would be used as compensation for families negatively affected by the Bantar Gebang trash disposal site, where Jakarta's trash is disposed.

Rahmat said Jakarta still owed money to develop health and education infrastructure.

Bekasi Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency head Tri Adhianto said the disagreement between the two administrations would affect ongoing infrastructure projects connecting the two areas such as the construction of Pangeran Jayabaru road in North Bekasi. (fac)

Source: Bekasi fails to get grant from Jakarta

MRT, LRT projects cause floods in Jakarta: Anies

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan blamed Monday's floods on several city thoroughfares like Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta on transportation development projects. 

"I have communicated and directly checked the scenes. The problem is that parts of the small canals are obstructed by ongoing projects like MRT, LRT, and so on," Anies said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com, referring to the Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit projects.

Anies asked his officials to pay attention to the waterways. Several thoroughfares like Jl. Rasuna Said and Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. Sudirman were reportedly inundated by up to 50 centimeters of water. 

He promised to take firm action against developers. 

Earlier, Jakarta Water Resources Agency head Teguh Hendarwan said he had sent letters to the managers of the MRT and LRT to ensure that their projects did not hamper the waterways.

"The sidewalk developments also play a role in this matter," Teguh said. (wnd)

Source: MRT, LRT projects cause floods in Jakarta: Anies

US Jerusalem move: Fury spreads from Jakarta to Rabat

A wave of anger against a US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital has spread from Asia, through the Middle East, to North Africa, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to denounce the controversial move.

Protesters filled central avenues and squares in a number of major international cities on Sunday, waving the flag of Palestine and shouting slogans to express their solidarity with the Palestinians, who see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

US President Donald Trump's announcement on Wednesday drew near-universal condemnation from world leaders and inflamed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with violence flaring up in the occupied Palestinian territories for a fifth day.

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 157 people were injured on Sunday in confrontations with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza.  

At least four Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the US declaration. 

Clashes also erupted on Sunday at a protest in Beirut, where demonstrators fought with security forces outside the US embassy in the Lebanese capital. 

Demonstrators set fires in the street, torched US and Israeli flags and threw stones at police officers, who responded with tear gas and water cannon.

Adnan Abdullah, a protester in Beirut, said Trump's Jerusalem decision "will not happen as long as there are people like us".

Another demonstrator, whose face was hidden behind a black mask, held up a tear gas canister and condemned Lebanese forces for "defending America".

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He went on to add, "There is no one by our side. None of the Arab countries. Oh God, we will raise the Palestinian flag"

Arab foreign ministers, in a resolution on Sunday, urged Trump to rescind the decision and have called for a UN Security Council condemnation of the shift in US policy.

Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Indonesians rallied outside the US embassy in Jakarta to vent their anger for a second day. Protesters carried Palestinian flags and banners saying "Pray for Palestine".

"We are not satisfied with just official statements," said Nurjannah Nurwani, one of the lead organisers of the gathering. "We need follow-up, international lobbying which could pressure them into withdrawing their decision."

Another female protester in Jakarta urged Trump to "use his brain" and "withdraw from Jerusalem".

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has condemned Trump's decision. On Thursday, he ordered the US ambassador in Jakarta to be summoned over the move.

In Turkey's Istanbul, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets again, transforming the city's Yenikapi Square into a sea of Turkish and Palestinian flags.  

"I feel like I should defend Palestine because I don't know any other way to defend them," said Ananda Sereka, who was at the protest. "So this is what I can do. This is the least I can do."

Israeli crackdown brings protests in Jerusalem to standstill

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the most vocal critics of Trump's move, has called the declaration "null and void" and vowed to fight it.

He has also called a summit of Islamic countries to discuss the move on Wednesday.

In Rabat, Morocco's capital, protesters yelled slurs against Trump and carried banners saying Jerusalem belonged to Palestine.

Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Rabat, said the protest was "a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people but also an opportunity to express anger" over Trump's decision.

"The protesters came from all walks of life," he said. "Government officials, members of the opposition, seculars and conservatives - all denouncing what they consider to be a decision that could destabilise the region."

Mohamed Boussaid, Morocco's finance minister, said the demonstration was a way "to express our indignation and un-satisfaction" and to show that "we refuse completely the decision taken by the president of the US".

Protester Mohamed Alghram agreed.

"We totally reject the decision that targets the most sacred place for us and we say no," he said. "Jerusalem is a red line."

Jerusalem is home to Islam's third holiest site and its status is deeply sensitive for Muslims.

In Indian-administered Kashmir, protesters took a different approach.

Residents of the capital Srinagar, home to 1.1 million people, closed their shops and abandoned the streets in protest. Salman Khan, a Srinagar resident, told the ANI news agency that Trump's decision was "completely unjust".

Muslim solidarity with Palestine also spread to the war-torn nations of Yemen and Syria.

Further protests were held in Egypt, where students and professors demonstrated at the Al-Azhar University.

In Pakistan's Karachi, hundreds of protesters marched towards the US Consulate in the city, but were turned back by riot police. 

Source: US Jerusalem move: Fury spreads from Jakarta to Rabat

Simultaneous diphtheria immunization following outbreak in Jakarta

A diphtheria outbreak in Jakarta has been getting worse, making it a health emergency, an official said. 

There have been 25 diphtheria cases in 2017, claiming two lives, Jakarta Health Agency head Koesmedi Priharto said on Friday. 

The number was higher compared to 2016, in which there were 17 cases and one death. 

Generally, a disease outbreak is classified as a health emergency when the infection and mortality rate increases by two fold. 

In response to the report, he said, the administration will hold a program called Outbreak Response Immunization (ORI) in five municipalities and one regency in the capital. 

"If a person in an area is suffering from diphtheria, all people in the area must take part in the ORI," Koesmedi explained, adding that the ORI, which is set to be held simultaneously on Dec. 11, is a measure that is usually conducted in an area where a diphtheria patient is found. 

He further said the ORI required three injections administered at certain intervals. 

The first and second injections are given in the first and second month, while the last one is given six months later. 

"The immunization is actually given to children at the age of two months, four months, six months, two years and six years. Then, it is continued with an immune booster," he explained. 

He then called on all Jakartans to willingly get the vaccine, which will be given for free. (agn) 

Source: Simultaneous diphtheria immunization following outbreak in Jakarta

International Conference “In Defending Palestinian Rights” – Jakarta Declaration

Jakarta 7-8th, December 2017: We the participants of the International Palestine Conference held in Jakarta, on 7, 8 December 2017, with delegates from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, India, Argentina, Malalysia, Phillippines & Indonesia hereby declare:

This conference resolved to continue to support the cause of the liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as a its capital. We call upon the people and the nations of the world to continue to support the Palestinian People and the Global Intifada, the Global Resistance to establish an independent sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital. Where Palestinians of all religions co-exist with mutual respect and equality on the 1948 borders of historic Palestine. This includes all Muslims, Christians & Jews and those who did not migrate from other countries to Palestine in 1917 or before.

The conference categorically condemned U.S President Trump's statement wherein he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Zionist Israeli Regime. Trump's decision is illegal and a flagrant violation of all International laws and UN's resolutions. The overwhelming majority of the nations have rejected Trump's decision. Trump's decision poses a threat to the holy city of Jerusalem as the continued Judaisation is a clear and present danger to the holy Masjid Al-Aqsa, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and all other Islamic and Christian sites.

The entire world is witness to the fact that the Balfour Declaration has proved to be a genocidal disaster, a "Nakba" for the Palestinian nation over the course of the last 100 years. We unanimously state that the Balfour declaration is an unpardonable crime against the Palestinian nation & thus demand that the British government apologise for their crime against humanity.

We strongly condemn the occupation and the daily oppression faced by the Palestinian people inflicted upon them by the Zionist apartheid Israeli colonial regime.

We call upon all the International Palestine solidarity movements, all civil society organizations, NGOs, Human Rights & Peace activists to come togather, unite and support the Palestinian Resistance against the imperialist Zionist occupation to defend & protect the holy city of Jeruslaem which is the common heritage of all of Humanity.

We especially call upon the Muslim world to unite and defeat all those forces that are spreading disunity, division among the Muslim nations and come forward to unite & undertake our Islamic duty for the liberation of Palestine and the holy city of Jerusalem.

We support the Right of Return of all the Palestinian refugees that had been ethnically cleansed by the Zionists. We also call for the end of the siege of the Gaza strip & an immediate end to the building of all Settlements in the West Bank.

Related

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Source: International Conference "In Defending Palestinian Rights" – Jakarta Declaration

Public Anger Erupts After New Jakarta Governor’s Proposed Budget

There is rising outrage in Jakarta in the wake of the presentation of the proposed 2018 budget by the new governor, Anies Baswedan and his deputy Sandiaga Uno, which is showing a clear sign of what one city council member called "thirst quenchers" for politicians.

Allocations in the spending plan have drawn the public's attention because of a spike in expenditures in several areas. The sharp rise in spending is attributable to what appear to be sweetheart allocations for the use of both the provincial government and members of the city council, known by its Indonesian acronym DPRD.

The allocations are in sharp contrast to previous fiscal plans by the former governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who sought to eliminate the long-standing abuse. Basuki, known universally by his Hakka nickname Ahok, lost his seat as governor to Anies in April after a campaign in which trumped-up charges of blasphemy were filed against him, resulting in waves of outrage among the majority Muslim population, fanned by rallies by Muslim conservatives and religious figures.

Months after the election, police arrested three leaders of an organized fake news syndicate known as Saracen that poured hundreds of thousands of bogus hacks onto the Internet, inflaming public opinion against Ahok, who was jailed after the election on the blasphemy charges. Worldwide human rights organizations have objected to Ahok's imprisonment, calling it a political travesty.

The allocations represent a sharp rise in irregularities from the two previous administrations, starting in 2012 when now-Indonesian President Joko Widodo was elected Jakarta governor and set out to clean up the corruption-ridden government. He was followed by Basuki, a Chinese Christian who was widely described as the best governor the city had had in recent history before he was driven from office.

Data obtained from the Jakarta government's official website shows a rocketing rise for so-called "working visits" for DPRD members, amounting to Rp107.7 billion (US$7.9 million) for more than 7,000 people.

The figure for the "working visits" budget under Ahok was only Rp8.8 billion, resulting in a quadruple rise of Rp99 billion and drawing massive anger from the public.

The amount is set for various things such as accommodation costs and air travel. Based on the administration's official budget website, the working visit budget covers domestic trip representation costs for city councilors and echelon level II officials.

The data showed that the 2018 working visit budget is allocated for 7,752 people. Each gets representation costs of Rp150,000 requiring Rp1.1 billion in total. In addition, the allocation includes daily travel expenses for 7,752 echelon level II officials and city councilor, at Rp4 million per person. However, the data didn't explain how many times the officials or councilors partook in working visits. Ironically, the Jakarta council itself has only 106 members. 

Responding to the issue, City Council Commission's secretary, Syarif, explained that each commission has 20 to 23 members and in a month could carry out two work visits. During a visit, the councilors usually bring along four staffers to take care of administration. Hence, within the working visit period, which is usually effective for 10 months, a commission would deploy 540 people for the activity, he argued.

There is also a budget of Rp620 million to "rejuvenate" a fishpond at the Regional House of Representatives, a public laughing stock.

The soaring budget also includes the implementation of "recess fees" for DPRD members, which rose to Rp34.4 billion. Then followed "discussion fees" for special committee of DPRD members, which rose to Rp27 billion, as well as discussion fee for budget agencies, another Rp11.9 billion.

There is also a significant rise in the percentage for the management fee of the Jakarta DPRD's website – up by a factor of 17 from Rp31 million to Rp571 million.

The new proposed budget, which the critics called "totally awkward," was descried as a "thirst quencher" for the members of the local Regional House of Representatives. A member of the DPRD was quoted by local media said the increase was to "meet the thirst of board members who had been castrated by the provincial government for so long."

In addition to the increases in the existing allocations, there are additional budget points that were not originally listed in the Local Government Work Plan, but emerged after a discussion with the DPRD Budget Agency such as the creation of a board member "profile book" costing Rp218 million, something that was also red-penciled out by Ahok.

City secretary Saifullah said the council needed to approve the proposed budget, which amounted to Rp77.1 trillion, before Nov. 30 and that, based on Government Regulation on the regional administration's development and supervision, top administration officials and council members wouldn't receive their salaries until they did so.

"The Home Ministry is going to evaluate the budget in December. If the city administration is late to submit it, a six-month sanction will be applied. So the budget deliberation had to finish in November," he said as quoted by local media, adding that the council members would also receive the sanction of

public criticism toward Jakarta's 2018 budget plan.

Anies Baswedan has allocated Rp1.6 trillion (US$118.3 million) in grants to 104 non-profit mass organizations, mostly Islamic ones including mosques, musholla (prayer rooms) and majlis taklim (Quran study congregations).

Several of Jakarta mosques played a significant role in Anies' victory during the gubernatorial election when they called on Muslims not to hold funeral prayers for deceased Muslims found to have supported Ahok, who is a Christian of Chinese ethnicity.

Meanwhile Anies said he hoped more people would keep an eye on the budget plan, to ensure it is well deliberated and transparent. He further said the city's budget is for the people, so Jakartans must take part in examining the deliberations. 

"With more eyes watching, [God willing] the funds will be allocated for people's needs," he said.

Dewi Kurniawati is a Jakarta-based correspondent and regular contributor to Asia Sentinel

Source: Public Anger Erupts After New Jakarta Governor's Proposed Budget

Jakarta Promises Pain for Drivers as Vehicle Entry Fees Planned

Drivers in the traffic-choked roads of Indonesia's capital have been put on notice that using the city's streets is set to get more painful.

With more than 10 million motorcycles and as many as 4 million cars already on Jakarta's streets, the provincial government is preparing to introduce a congestion tax and push people towards using public transport.

"We want to make it painful so that it's enough of a disincentive for people to move to public transport," Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno said Wednesday at a Bloomberg conference in Jakarta.

The city of about 10 million people is the epicenter of business for Southeast Asia's biggest economy. But the streets are often congested, with traffic jams a major obstacle to logistics and economic activity. To overcome the problem, the provincial government is planning an electronic road pricing system to be rolled out in March 2019, after the first stage of an MRT already under construction is up and running.

There's no price structure yet, but it'll be "flexible" with the project going to tender in 2018, Uno said.  The number of vehicles in Jakarta "is completely unsustainable," he said. "We want to fix the traffic by building world class infrastructure."

Source: Jakarta Promises Pain for Drivers as Vehicle Entry Fees Planned

Grant for Jakarta teachers susceptible to fraud: Unions

Jakarta's 2018 draft budget has once again garnered criticism, with education experts claiming that a Rp 430.7 billion (US$31.8 million) grant set aside for teachers' associations would be susceptible to fraud.

According to the Indonesian Teacher Unions Federation (FSGI) and Jakarta Teacher Union (SEGI), the funds should be given directly to teachers.

"[Distributing the grant through organizations] will trigger discrimination and jealousy," Heru Purnomo, FSGI's general secretary, said in a press conference on Sunday. 

Jakarta administration has set aside funds for three teacher organizations in its 2018 draft budget. The Association of Indonesian Educators and Teaching Practitioners for Early Childhood Education (Himpaudi) is set to receive Rp 40.2 billion, the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) is slated to get Rp 367 billion, while Rp 23.5 billion will go to the Indonesian Association of Kindergarten Teachers (IGTKI). 

The administration said that the funds were a show of its appreciation for teachers.

Furthermore, if the funds were channeled through specific organizations, only teachers who were a part of those organizations would receive their share, Heru said.

"It will not reach all teachers in the capital who did not join those organizations. If the administration wants to improve the quality of teachers, it should provide workshops instead of giving cash," he added. 

Education Agency deputy head Bowo Irianto assured that all Jakarta teachers would receive a monthly share of the grant, adding that the three organizations were selected to help the administration distribute the funds accordingly.

Moreover, these three groups were the ones that had made a formal request for a grant for Jakarta's teachers, he said.

Source: Grant for Jakarta teachers susceptible to fraud: Unions

Jakarta among top 10 cities on Instagram

If Instagram posts are any measure, Jakarta may be among the most popular and appreciated cities on Earth.

Every year, Instagram analyzes geotag data to determine netizens' favorite destinations for Instagram. This summer, the social media platform revealed that Jakarta was among the most geo-tagged destination in the world on Instagram's Stories feature.

From data published by Conde Nast Traveler last week, Jakarta takes the eighth spot for most geo-tagged destination across the platform, above Istanbul, Turkey and Barcelona, Spain.

The first position on the list is occupied by New York, which incidentally is home to three of the world's most-Instagrammed tourist attractions, namely the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and Central Park.

Other cities that made the top-10 list include Moscow and Paris.

Read also: Jakarta named the most popular location tag on Instagram Stories

Here is the complete list of top-10 most-Instagrammed cities in the world:

1. New York City, United States

2. Moscow

3. London

4. São Paulo, Brazil

5. Paris

6. Los Angeles, the US

7. St. Petersburg, Russia

8. Jakarta

9. Istanbul, Turkey

10. Barcelona, Spain

Source: Jakarta among top 10 cities on Instagram

Jakarta hosts World Memory Championship 2017

The World Memory Championship 2017 is currently being held at Mercure Ancol Hotel, Jakarta. 

The two-day event runs from Dec. 2 to 3 and a total of 21 countries, including Indonesia, are taking part in this competition.

The event is initiated by the Memory Sports Council, an international organization that aims to produce intelligent Indonesian kids that are great in science and have good memorizing skills. The Memory Sports Council in Germany has given its full trust for Indonesia to become the host of the event.

This is the first time Indonesia has been appointed as the host of World Memory Championship.

There are 10 championships being competed at this event and the participants are divided into four categories: Kids, junior, adult and senior.

Meanwhile, the head coach of Indonesian Team Yudi Lesmana said that he hopes his team will be competitive.

"We've conducted Memory Championship Tour trials to four countries, starting from Korea, and two trials at Indonesia Friendly Championship," told Yudi.

These participants are aiming to win two trophies, a total prize of Rp 100 million and 200 medals. (kes)

Source: Jakarta hosts World Memory Championship 2017

Jokowi opens new 2018 Asian Games venues in Jakarta

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo officially opened the four newly renovated venues at the Gelora Bung Karno sporting complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Saturday. The venues will be used for the 2018 Asian Games next year.

The venues comprise a field hockey arena, an ABC soccer field, archery grounds and an aquatics complex. The renovation cost Rp 370 billion (US$27,343,000).

"I hereby open the new field hockey arena, ABC soccer field, archery ground and aquatics complex. Thank you." Jokowi said during the event.

Jokowi singled out the aquatics complex that has been certified by world body FINA as "the best venue."

Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) chief Erick Thohir said the opening event by the president had boosted the organizers' spirit to work harder.

"We're currently holding a test event on 3x3 basketball and next week we will also have an aquatics test event.

"With today's event, we have to work harder for the upcoming Games," said Erick in a statement.

The 2018 Games, dubbed as the biggest multisporting event in Asia, will be held from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2. (nkn)

Source: Jokowi opens new 2018 Asian Games venues in Jakarta

Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta, most-searched Indonesian cities on Google

Data from Google search engine shows the three most-searched destinations in Indonesia.

"The three most-searched domestic destinations are Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta," said Google Indonesia search marketing manager Mira Sumanti.

Other destinations such as Pangandaran, Bukittinggi and Berastagi are also trending on Google.

According to Mira, people travel one to two times in a year and there are two peak seasons in a year which are Idul Fitri and new year holidays. Currently, the search for flights and hotel bookings have been on the rise since the early November and will increase until the end of the year.

Within the last 12 months, the average growth for the search for holiday or trip-related information is at five percent.

"The growth is becoming more significant nearing the peak season," added Mira.

Google accommodates this surge by developing the Knowledge Panel feature.

"Let's say someone wants to look for hotel accommodation, they open Google and information about price, location and reviews will show up," said Mira. (asw)

Source: Jakarta, Bali and Yogyakarta, most-searched Indonesian cities on Google