Welcome to the year of the Tiger! Hopefully the stars are aligned for your benefit, this year, because it appears to be for the virus! We’re climbing along the Delta peak in record time nationally while Jakarta has surpassed its last peak. Not a moment to celebrate, obviously. Keep wearing your masks and maintain your distance. You still don’t want to catch this.
Did you know that not selling drugs doesn’t mean you wouldn’t get charged for it? That’s what happened to a couple of unlucky bums who thought it was a good idea to prank the cops. Seems the police are looking to save some faces from embarrassment.
We’re Still in a Pandemic?
Indonesia recorded more than 30,000 daily infections for the first time since August when the Delta variant broke out. The only consolation is that daily fatality figures have yet to reach 100 and the number of recoveries are slowly catching up.
However, hospital bed occupancy rate (BOR) is rising in hotspots like Jakarta, West Java, and Banten while people were queuing for hours to get into the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran isolation facility.
So what are they doing to control the situation? Not much actually. The PPKM level in much of the country is still at level 2, including the Greater Jakarta Area even though according to Health Ministry standards some areas like Depok should have been declared as level 4.
Does the government’s refusal to tighten PPKM has to do with money or lack thereof? Does it have to do with the upcoming MotoGP in March? No one knows for sure. But the president did order an evaluation on the PPKM.
Also this week, the government decided to reopen international flights to Bali. The maiden flight was from Tokyo’s Narita using a Garuda Indonesia plane on Thursday. The plane was only carrying 12 passengers, six of whom were Japanese travel agents invited by the Indonesian tourism ministry for an all expense paid trip.
The government did agree to modify the joint decree by four Ministries on in person classes. Previously, schools in PPKM levels 1 and 2 must have 100% in person classes. But now schools in level 2 areas can have hybrid classes with an emphasis on the word “can”.
It might be a face-saving decision though. You see, even before the new policy was issued, several areas have already said they will ignore the 100% in person classes requirement set by the decree.
Meanwhile, top government officials continued to make public appearances this week including Jokowi.
Cops Duped in Dope Bust
The Medan police narcotics unit was duped by two men posing as drug pushers. Long story short, some undercover cops pretended to buy 3kg of "crystal meth" for an undisclosed sum from the supposed drug dealers who they later arrested. Lo and behold the "meth" turned out to be nothing more than sugar and salt.
But here's where things got weird, police decided to go ahead and charge these posers with drug offenses, even though they have not been selling drugs. Police argued that the two have sold salt and sugar four times by passing them as meth.
This means that the pair are facing the death sentence. At the very minimum, they will get six years in prison if convicted.
Experts criticized the decision to charge the pair with drug charges saying that fraud is more fitting. Experts also criticized the cops' intelligence work adding that the cops should have tested the merch before making the arrest.
But even if the cops want to charge the pair with fraud, one expert argued that the cops need a formal complaint from a victim. The cops cannot position themselves as a victim because they are the ones making the arrest. And the expert seriously doubt that anyone would be willing to say that they were duped without exposing themselves to be a drug user.
C’mon officers… just hear what Elsa has to say…
Another Arteria Chapter Closed?
Police have decided not to charge controversial politician Arteria Dahlan with insulting members of the Sundanese community after he urged the sacking of a public prosecutor for using the Sundanese language at a formal meeting.
Police argued that Arteria’s comment was made at a House of Representatives hearing in his capacity as a lawmaker. Apparently in such circumstances lawmakers have immunity and basically can say whatever they want if it is made at a formal hearing.
The parliament’s Ethics Council also declined to review the case brought forward by the Sundanese community, citing the same law that protects the freedom of speech of parliament members expressed in their official capacity.
You can already guess that the decision would not sit well with the Sundanese, some of whom have been protesting in front of the House of Representatives, government offices, and headquarters of Arteria’s political party, PDI-P.
Don’t expect Arteria to be traveling by road across Jakarta’s provincial borders anytime soon. He can go by plane… oh wait the main airport is in Banten which is also home to the Sundanese community.
Quick Reads
Female Preacher Walks Back Pro Domestic Violence Sermon
Actress turned preacher Oki Setiana Dewi caused an uproar after a video of one of her sermons condoning domestic abuse went viral this week. In the sermon, Oki seemingly advised wives to keep their mouths shut if they are physically assaulted by their husbands, suggesting that it will make their husbands love them more.
The video quickly drew condemnation from the likes of the National Commission for the Protection of Women (Komnas Perempuan), women rights activists for normalizing domestic abuse. Even Muslim scholars have spoken against the sermon, saying that the Prophet was against domestic violence.
Oki has since apologized for the sermon which she said was given two or three years ago. In her apology, she insisted that she is against domestic violence.
Indonesia and Thailand Off the WADA Banned List
The World Anti Doping Agency has removed Indonesia and Thailand from its list of non compliant nations. The two countries had been banned since October 2021 from flying their national flags at international sporting events or be host to such events. The two nations’s authorities managed to convince the agency of its compliance efforts four months into the year long ban.
Susi Air Grounded in North Kalimantan
A video of the forced removal of a Susi Air aircraft from a hangar in North Kalimantan by the Public Order Agency went viral this week. The Malinau regency government denied the application to renew the airline’s license in December but thus far declined to provide the reason. The domestic airline belongs to former Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti who expressed her surprise publicly on social media.
Pineapple on Pizza is Not the Worst Italian Food Sin
Nevermind how the Italians actually feel about this because the rest of the world will continue doing what they think is proper for an Italian culinary experience. No, the Hawaiian Pizza isn’t the worst mistake according to actual Italians. It’s adding ketchup to your pasta. Read the article to find out what else is considered a desecration of their culinary treasure.
Bali to Deport Ukrainian Assault Victim
A Ukrainian man who was a victim of assault is set to be deported for violation of visa conditions after reporting the incident to the police. His attackers, of Russian and Ukrainian origins, are also scheduled to be deported. The victim’s lawyer and fiancée are appealing the decision and questioning the reason.