Indonesia Is The Latest Country To Move Away From The US Dollar And Western Financial Institutions

Plastic money: An employer supervises the printing of Bank Mandiri credit cards at the state-owned lender's headquarters in Jakarta in 2016.(Antara/Puspa Perwitasari) 

Indonesia Expat: Indonesian Government to Launch the Domestic Credit Card 

President Joko Widodo’s statement that he prefers credit cards used by the government to be issued by domestic issuers rather than foreign companies has been met with positivity from Indonesia’s credit card issuers. 

Executive Director of the Indonesian Credit Card Association (AKKI), Steve Marta said that the government should encourage the use of government credit cards that utilise local issuers and public credit cards. 

“It’s not only government credit cards but I think we should also have local credit cards one day,” Marta told CNBC Indonesia on Thursday, 6th March 2023. 

Marta stated that the banking sector’s credit card issuers would also endorse this measure, citing security risks associated with credit cards issued overseas, as highlighted by Jokowi’s comments about US sanctions against Russia during the Ukraine conflict.  

Read more ....  

Update: BI pushes ahead with domestic credit card to cut reliance on foreign ones (Jakarta Post)  

WNU Editor: Almost everyday I am reading a news report from a country or a foreign financial institution that has made the decision to minimize and/or move away completely from the US dollar. But in the West there is little if any coverage in the main stream media of these developments.

Indonesia Wants 50 New Warships By 2024

The Boeing F-15EX is on Indonesia’s wish-list. (Boeing)  

Breaking Defense: Indonesia wants ‘up to 50 warships’ in next two years as part of $125B air, naval splurge 

Amidst incursions by China into Indonesia's Extended Economic Zone, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is looking for a major investment in military gear. 

SYDNEY: For the first time in decades, Indonesia appears ready to significantly improve its air and naval capabilities, with early commitments of spending $125 billion over the next 20-plus years. 

Defense minister Prabowo Subianto was quoted in an English-language website Jan. 27 saying that he has told Indonesia’s president that the country will have “up to 50 warships” in the next two years. Sadly, no details were available as to what kinds of “warships” he might have meant, whether frigates and destroyers or offshore patrol craft. It may, suggests one analyst who asked not to be identified, simply mean Indonesia’s navy will have 50 ships ready to go to sea at any one time.  

Read more ....  

Update: Indonesia to Get 50 Warships by 2024: Defense Minister (Kompass)  

WNU Editor: Indonesia is looking at China and realizing they have a lot of catching up to do. 

Indonesia will also be needing subs .... Why Indonesia Needs to Expand Its Submarine Fleet (The Diplomat).

Indonesian Army Scraps 'Virginity Tests' For Female Recruits

 

CNA/Reuters: Indonesian army ends 'virginity tests' on female cadets  

JAKARTA: The Indonesian army has ended a controversial practice of virginity tests on women who apply to become cadets, according to its chief of staff, a move welcomed by activists who have long campaigned against it. 

"Two-finger tests", where doctors check the hymen of female recruits to try to determine their virginity, was systematic, abusive and cruel, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), which conducted investigations in 2014 into the practice and in 2017 renewed calls for it to end. 

The military previously said the tests were important in determining recruits' morality. The World Health Organization has said they have "no scientific validity" and the appearance of a hymen was not a reliable indicator of intercourse.

Read more ....  

Update #1: Indonesian army ends "virginity tests" on female cadets: "Abusive, unscientific and discriminatory" (CBS) 

Update #2: Indonesia halts ‘two-finger’ virginity tests on female military recruits (RT)  

WNU Editor: It makes me wonder why women want to join the Indonesian army.

Video Shows Indonesian Submarine Crew Singing Farewell Song Weeks Before Sinking

 

BBC: Indonesia submarine: Navy releases video of crew singing farewell song 

The Indonesian navy has released a poignant video showing the crew of a sunken submarine singing on board their vessel. 

The video, filmed a few weeks ago, shows the sailors singing an Indonesian hit called Sampai Jumpa (see you later). 

Officials confirmed on Sunday that the KRI Nanggala - which sank off the coast of Bali on Wednesday - had been found split into three pieces on the sea bed. 

All 53 crew were confirmed as dead. The submarine had been taking part in a torpedo drill just before it disappeared and the reason for its sinking is not yet clear.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: A fitting song for the family members to remember their loved ones.

Debris From Indonesian Submarine Found, Navy Declares Sub Sunk. All 53 Aboard Dead

 

ABC News (Australia): Indonesian navy finds items from missing submarine, no hope of finding survivors 

Indonesia's navy says items have been found from a missing submarine, indicating the vessel with 53 crew members has sunk with no hope of finding survivors. 

Navy Chief Yudo Margono said rescuers found several items including parts of a torpedo straightener, a grease bottle believed to be used to oil the periscope and prayer rugs from the submarine. 

"With the authentic evidence we found believed to be from the submarine, we have now moved from the 'sub missing' phase to 'sub sunk'," Admiral Margono said at a press conference in Bali where the found items were displayed.  

Read more .... 

More News On Indonesia Declaring Missing Sub Has Sunk 

Indonesia navy declares lost sub sunk, all 53 aboard dead -- AP  

Rescuers find debris thought to be from missing Indonesian submarine -- Reuters  

Indonesia navy says submarine with 53 crew has sunk after items found -- France 24  

Debris From Indonesian Submarine Is Found, Ending Hopes of Rescue -- New York Times 

Indonesia: Missing submarine has sunk — military -- DW  

Indonesian submarine declared sunk, no hope of survivors -- FOX News  

Indonesia submarine: Missing vessel presumed 'sunk' after debris found -- Business Insider  

Indonesia military says missing submarine carrying 53 has sunk -- The Telegraph

Search For Indonesia's Missing Submarine Intensifies With Oxygen Onboard Set To Run Out In Hours

 

CNN: Indonesian navy detects object, narrows search area for missing submarine 

Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN)Indonesian search teams believe they have identified an area where a missing naval submarine with 53 people on board could be located, as authorities warn oxygen on the vessel will run out within hours. 

The area of interest is about 40 kilometers (approximately 25 miles) north of Bali, where oil had been spotted on the surface of the water near the dive point, and where an object likely to have come from the submarine was detected, according to Maj. Gen. Achmad Riad, the head of the military's central information unit.  

Read more .... 

More News On the Search For Indonesia's Missing Submarine 

Frantic hunt for Indonesian submarine as rescuers home in on signal -- AFP 

Indonesian sub's crew oxygen dwindles as worries grow -- FOX News/AP  

Missing Indonesian submarine running out of air and time as U.S. joins search -- NBC  

US joins race to find stricken Indonesia submarine -- BBC  

25 Indonesian vessels involved in submarine search; Singapore's MV Swift Rescue expected to join in tonight -- CNA  

We WILL find you: Indonesian officer hunting for missing submarine looks at pictures of lost crew as search team hones in on radar contact with oxygen onboard set to run out in just hours -- Daily Mail

Indonesia Races To Find Missing Submarine Before It Runs Out Of Oxygen In 72 Hours

 

France 24: Indonesia races to find missing submarine with 53 crew members aboard 

Indonesia deployed warships Thursday in the hunt for a navy submarine that went missing with 53 crew aboard off the coast of Bali, as other nations sent vessels to help with the search. 

An oil spill where the vessel was thought to have submerged early Wednesday during regular exercises could point to damage, the navy has said, fanning fears that the Southeast Asian nation may be the latest country to suffer a fatal submarine disaster. 

The German-built KRI Nanggala 402 was scheduled to conduct live torpedo exercises when it asked for permission to dive. 

It lost contact shortly after. 

 Read more .... 

More News On Indonesia's Missing Submarine

Indonesia looking for submarine that may be too deep to help -- AP  

Missing Indonesian submarine has 72 hours of oxygen left, navy says -- BBC 

Indonesia: Missing submarine has enough oxygen for 72 hours — navy -- DW  

Indonesia races to find missing submarine before it runs out of oxygen on Saturday -- CNN  

Time Running Out To Rescue 53 Sailors Aboard Missing Indonesian Submarine -- NPR  

Indonesia searching for missing submarine with 53 on board, calls on Australia and Singapore for help -- ABC News (Australia)  

Indonesia continues search for missing submarine carrying 53 people -- The Guardian

Suicide Bombers Target Catholic Church In Indonesia

 

ABC News (Australia): Catholic church in Indonesia targeted in suspected suicide bombing 

Indonesian police have identified one of the bombers involved in a militant attack in front of a church in the city of Makassar. 

Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told reporters the person was a part of a group involved in a militant attack in the Philippines in 2018. 

The two suspected suicide bombers attacked a Catholic church on Sunday, wounding fourteen people on the first day of the Easter Holy Week, officials said. 

Read more .... 

 More News On Suicide Bombers Targeting A Catholic Church In Indonesia 

Indonesia bombing: Worshippers wounded in Makassar church attack -- BBC 

Suicide bomb hits Palm Sunday Mass in Indonesia, 20 wounded -- AP 

Indonesian church bombed by suspected Islamist militants -- Reuters 

Suicide bombing targets Indonesian Catholic Church on Palm Sunday -- France 24 

Indonesia: Several injured in church suicide bombing -- DW 

Suicide attack rocks Indonesia church, several wounded -- Al Jazeera

Police And Protesters Clash In Indonesia Over Passage Of New Labor Laws For The Third straight Day

 

ABC News Online: Indonesia erupts in protests for third day over controversial labour laws 

Police and demonstrators have clashed in the Indonesian capital on the third day of protests and strikes against a polarising new jobs law passed in South-East Asia's largest economy. 

At least two students have been hospitalised with head injuries, and six police officers hurt. 

On Thursday hundreds of demonstrators gathered near the presidential palace in central Jakarta, shouting and throwing stones. 

Protesters burned a traffic police post at an intersection near the palace, while others set fire to tires and fiberglass road barriers. 

Read more .... 

 More News On The Growing Unrest In Indonesia 

Clashes erupt in protests against new Indonesian jobs law -- Reuters 

Demonstrations sweep Indonesia over controversial labour law -- Al Jazeera 

Hundreds arrested at protests over labor law in Jakarta -- CNN 

Protests spread across Indonesia in opposition of omnibus jobs law -- UPI 

Protests Spread Across Indonesia Over Jobs Law -- NYT 

Police And Protesters Clash In Indonesia Over Passage Of New Labor Laws -- IBTimes

Indonesia Rocked By Protests Against The Country's New Criminal Code

The Guardian: Thousands protest against new criminal code in Indonesia

At least 40 injured in student protests over plans that include outlawing extramarital sex

Thousands of students have taken to the streets in Indonesia to protest against a “disastrous” draft criminal code that would include outlawing extramarital sex and a controversial new law that could weaken the nation’s anti-corruption body.

On Tuesday, the second consecutive day of protests, thousands of students gathered outside the parliament building in Jakarta, calling for the government to suspend its plans to ratify the draft code. Police fired teargas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators.

If passed, the new laws would usher in sweeping changes that activists have described as a disaster for human rights and democratic freedoms.

Read more ....

More News On The Growing Protests In Indonesia Against The Country's New Criminal Code

Indonesia protests over sex before marriage bill -- BBC
Indonesia protests over new criminal code see students defy police firing tear gas and water cannon -- ABC News Online
Indonesian police fire tear gas, water cannons, as students protest law that would criminalize extramarital sex -- CNN
Indonesia protests: Hundreds hurt in student-police clashes -- Al Jazeera
Everything You Need to Know About Indonesia's Proposed Bill That Criminalises Extra-Marital Sex -- News18.com

Indonesia's West Papua Protests Turn Violent Over Accusations Of Discrimination

CNN: Protesters set fire to a parliament building in West Papua as demonstrations spread

Thousands of protesters in the provincial capital of Indonesia's West Papua have set fire to a local government building amid widespread demonstrations sparked by alleged police discrimination against Papuan students.

The Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua have for decades been wracked by a long-simmering and occasionally violent separatist movement, with flare-ups common.

On Monday morning, crowds marched through Manokwari, the capital of West Papua, setting fire to the parliament building, cars, and tree tires.

Videos on social media show the parliament building billowing black smoke, and deafening chants from large crowds on the streets -- a rare public protest in the highly militarized region. Footage shows protesters bearing signs that read, "Stop racism." Police in Manokwari responded to the protests Monday with tear gas.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The riots started after this .... West Papuan students barricaded, detained and tear-gassed by police on Indonesian 'freedom' day (ABC News Online).

More News On Today's Riots In West Papua

Protesters burn parliament building in Indonesia's Papua -- AP
Indonesia Papua: Local parliament torched in Manokwari unrest -- BBC
Thousands riot in Papua, parliament building torched -- AFP
Indonesia's West Papua protests turn violent -- Al Jazeera
Fiery protests erupt in Indonesia's West Papua region -- Al Jazeera
Indonesia president urges calm after violent protests in Papua cities -- Channel News Asia
Police regain control in Papua after clashes, government buildings torched -- SBS News

Indonesia Rocked By Post-Election Violence

BBC: Indonesia post-election protests leave six dead in Jakarta

Six people have been killed and 200 injured during mass rallies in Jakarta against the re-election of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Indonesian police confirmed the death toll based on reports from hospitals. They said the cause of the deaths was being investigated.

The national police chief has denied his officers used live ammunition.

Social media has been restricted in some areas to stop rumours spreading.

"Some had gunshot wounds, some had blunt force wounds but we still need to clarify this," national police chief Tito Karnavian said, referring to the six dead, who are believed to have been killed overnight.

Read more ....

More News On Post-Election Violence In Indonesia

Six die, protests swell as Indonesia plunges into post-election unrest -- Reuters
Protesters clash with Indonesian police after election loss -- FOX News/AP
Six dead, 200 injured in protests over Indonesia's election result -- CNN
Protests Over Indonesia's Election Results Have Turned Deadly -- Time

Joko Widodo Re-Elected As President Of Indonesia

BBC: Indonesia election: Joko Widodo re-elected as president

Joko Widodo has been re-elected as Indonesia's president after last month's vote, beating former general Prabowo Subianto.

The result was released a day ahead of schedule in the early hours of Tuesday, amid fears of unrest.

Around 32,000 security personnel were deployed across the capital Jakarta, AFP news agency reports.

Mr Prabowo rejected the result and said he would pursue "legal avenues", but urged his supporters to stay calm.

Ahead of the final tally he had alleged "widespread cheating" and warned of potential street protests. In 2014 Mr Prabowo challenged an election defeat by Mr Widodo in Indonesia's constitutional court, but lost.

The latest vote followed a bitter campaign in which religion played a key role, but independent observers have said it was free and fair.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Not everyone is happy .... 1 million will march against Indonesia presidential poll result, say opposition groups, but others doubtful (SCMP).

More News On Joko Widodo Re-Elected As President Of Indonesia

Official count shows Widodo reelected as Indonesian leader -- AP
Joko Widodo secures second term as Indonesia's president -- CNN
Indonesian election: Joko Widodo wins Indonesian presidency by a wide margin -- The Australian/WSJ
President Joko Widodo Wins Re-Election in Indonesia -- Time
Widodo re-elected as Indonesia's president with 55.5% of votes -- CGTN
Indonesia election: Joko Widodo wins second term -- Al Jazeera

Who Knew That An Amphibious Vehicle Can Do A Belly Flop Into The Ocean

Popular Mechanics: Watch This Amphibious Vehicle Belly Flop Into the Ocean

The Indonesian marines really know how to run their vehicles hard. Maybe too hard.

It's a shenanigan that would probably make the U.S. Marine Corps' vehicle maintainers blow a gasket. In the video below, Indonesian marines race their American-made amphibious assault vehicles off a dock, sending them flying into the ocean. The vehicles are actually suspended in the air for a few brief moments before sending up a tremendous splash of water.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I suspect that this was a very costly stunt.

Dirty Bomb Attack Plan Uncovered In Indonesia

Anti terror policemen stand beside goods seized from a house of suspected Islamist militants in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia August 15, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Agus Bebeng via REUTERS/File Photo REUTERS

Reuters: Exclusive: Indonesian militants planned 'dirty bomb' attack - sources

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian militants planned to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb, security sources said, highlighting the rising ambitions of extremists to wreak destruction in the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

But experts cast doubt on their expertise, equipment and chances of success.

The plot was foiled when police raided homes and arrested five suspects in Bandung, West Java, last week, the sources with direct knowledge of the plot said. After the raids, police spoke of a plan to explode a “chemical” bomb but provided no other details.

The plot comes as Indonesia grapples with an influx of militants deported from other countries and the fallout from the Islamic State-led siege in the southern Philippines city of Marawi that regional leaders and analysts worry has energized militants across Southeast Asia

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Not many details have been released by the Indonesian authorities, but I am sure that this news is sending a chill through everyone's spine in the region.

Tens of Thousands of Hardline Muslims Protest in Indonesia Protest Against The Capital's Christian Governor

New York Times: Islamists March in Indonesian Capital, Demanding Christian Governor Be Jailed

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Tens of thousands of Indonesians marched in Jakarta on Friday, demanding that the city’s first Christian governor in decades be jailed for blasphemy. The rally was a show of strength by conservative Islamic groups, who were offended by his earlier remarks about the Quran and want to weaken him as he runs for re-election.

The governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, is an ethnic Chinese Indonesian and the first Christian in nearly 50 years to govern Jakarta, capital of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

He has been a political target of some Islamic organizations since taking office in 2014. Some of those groups seized on comments he made in September to a group of fishermen, in which he lightheartedly cited a Quran verse that warns against taking Christians and Jews as friends.

Read more ....

More News On Today's Mass Protests In Indonesia

Indonesian police quell mass protest by hardline Muslims -- Reuters
Indonesia: Thousands rally against blasphemy in Jakarta -- Al Jazeera
Thousands rally in Jakarta over governor's alleged blasphemy -- CNN
Indonesia’s ‘Robocop’ police take to the streets in violent battles with protesters who accuse Jakarta’s governor of ‘insulting the Koran’ -- Daily Mail
Indonesia President: Political Meddling Behind Jakarta Clash -- AP
Hard-Line Strain of Islam Gains Ground in Indonesia, World’s Largest Muslim Country -- WSJ

Muslim - Christian Violence Escalates In Indonesia

Muslim-Christian Violence Kills 3, Injures Scores In Indonesia -- Voice of America

Two hundred special police were helping to maintain order in Indonesia's eastern Maluku province Monday after rioting between Muslims and Christians that left three people dead and scores injured.

Authorities said police fired into a crowd in the city of Ambon Sunday to dispel rival groups who were fighting with rocks and machetes. Indonesia's chief security minister called on all parties in the city to help calm the situation.

Read more ....

More News On Indonesia's Sectarian Violence

Troops sent after deadly clashes in Indonesia's Ambon -- BBC
Indonesia sends in police after Ambon clash -- AFP
Indonesia sends troops to eastern region after sectarian clashes kill 5, injure 150 -- Washington Post
Indonesia Sends Troops to Quell Clashes -- Time/AP
Moluccas: three dead and 60 wounded in clashes between Christians and Muslims -- Asia News
Indonesia sends troops to quell sectarian clashes -- Seattle PI/AP

Sectarian Killings And Christian Churches Being Attack Sweep Jawa, Indonesia

Indonesia: Angry Muslim Crowd Attacks Java Churches -- BBC

More than 1,000 Muslim protesters have stormed a courthouse and burned two churches in central Java, Indonesia.

The attacks in Temanggung happened after a Christian man was sentenced to five years in jail for distributing leaflets deemed insulting to Islam.

Indonesian police said the crowd considered the sentence too lenient and were demanding the death penalty.

The incident came two days after Muslim villagers in western Java killed three members of a minority Islamic sect.

A police spokesman told the BBC that the angry crowd began attacking the court building in Temanggung after the verdict was read out.

The violence spread to surrounding neighbourhoods where two churches were set on fire and a third was damaged.

Police fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowds.

Read more ....

More News On the Sectarian And Religious Attacks In Indonesia

US 'deplores' religious killings in Indonesia -- AFP
Religious clash in Indonesia kills up to six: report -- AFP
Muslim mob attacks court, churches in Indonesia -- Reuters

Muslim Mob Burns Churches in Indonesia -- Voice of America
Muslim mob burns, ransacks churches in Indonesia -- AFP
Riot breaks out over Java blasphemy case -- Sydney Morning Herald

Indonesia pressured over Ahmadiyah Muslim sect killings -- BBC
Indonesian Authorities Vow Inquiry After Attack -- New York Times
Indonesia demands probe into attack on Muslim sect -- AP
Indonesian Government Condemns Attack on Ahmadiyah Group -- Voice of America
Indonesian police probe attack on minority Muslim sect -- CNN

Indonesia: DNA Shows Body Of Slain Militant Not Noordin Top

Police spokesperson Sukarna holds up a picture of a militant suspect, now identified as Ibrohim, during a news conference in Jakarta. Photo: REUTERS

From Yahoo News/AP:

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia's most wanted Islamist militant, accused in a string of deadly terror attacks including a bombing in Bali, was not killed in a shootout last week as initial media reports suggested and remains at large, police said Wednesday.

Tests comparing the body's DNA with that of members of Noordin Muhammad Top's family came back negative, said Eddy Saparwoko, head of the national police victim identification unit. The body was found to be that of a florist linked to Noordin who police said was a member of a terrorist cell that led last month's twin suicide hotel bombings in Jakarta.

Read more ....

More News On Indonesia's Most Wanted Terrorist

DNA confirms terrorist Noordin Top escaped gun battle -- The Telegraph
Bali bombing mastermind escaped deadly police siege -- The Guardian
Hunt Resumes for Top Indonesian Terrorist -- New York Times
The hunt goes on for terror mastermind -- Asia Times
Indonesian Police Say They Didn't Kill Noordin -- Wall Street Journal
Indonesian Police: Terror Suspect Top Was Not Killed in Raid -- Voice of America
Blow for Indonesia as militant Top eludes police -- Reuters
FACTBOX: Five facts about Islamic militant Noordin Top -- Reuters

Doubts Arise Over Indonesian Terrorist's Death

A body is removed after the siege. Photo: AFP

From Wall Street Journal:

JAKARTA -- Police are investigating whether a man they killed over the weekend is one of Southeast Asia's most-wanted terrorists, following a pair of dramatic raids that may have foiled a plot to kill Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Indonesian police killed three suspected terrorists -- including one who a senior antiterrorism official said was Noordin Mohamed Top, the main suspect behind last month's deadly suicide bombings at the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta -- and uncovered a large bomb cache primed for future attacks. Police said they believe the deaths and five other arrests unraveled a plan to blow up the private residence of Mr. Yudhoyono, who has made fighting terrorism a hallmark of his administration since coming to power in 2004.

Read more ....

More News On Indonesia's War Against Terror Groups

Mystery over Noordin Mohammed Top thickens -- Long War Journal
Shot by camera but Noordin Top slips the net -- The Australian
Doubts that dead man is Noordin Top -- The Age
Doubts raised that dead terrorist was top leader -- AP
Indonesian Leaders Praise Anti-Terror Raids -- New York Times
Indonesian President was next target, say police -- Brisbane Times
Tests Will Tell If Indonesian Terrorist Suspect Is Dead -- NPR
Noordin's death will not reduce radicalism: Experts -- Jakarta Post