Indonesia Highlights: Indonesia, Other ASEAN Countries Call For Revocation of Arms Embargo to Myanmar | Giant Supermarket Closures Will Result in 7,000 Layoffs | Six People in Maluku Provice Arrested

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia and other ASEAN countries called for the revocation of the arms embargo to Myanmar in the United Nations General Assembly. Instead, they opted for the release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Indonesian retailers Hero Group are facing calls to look out for the future of over 7000 workers, after they announced the closure of their Gian supermarkets by the end of the year.

And police in the Indonesian province of Maluku arrested six people for making fake antigen and Genose test result letters. This and more on Indonesia Highliights:

AP Anti-coup protesters display a party flag of the National League for Democracy (NLD) during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar, Friday, May 14, 2021. (AP Photo)

Indonesia, Other ASEAN Countries Call For Revocation of Arms Embargo to Myanmar

Nine ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam have called for an end to an arms embargo against Myanmar and other easing of sanctions, as the United Nations General Council proposed tighter sanctions against the conflict-ridden country.

In a letter to the Liechtenstein, the country proposing the sanctions, the ASEAN countries argued for further negotiations until a solution can be agreed upon. They will be most affected by the Myanmar crisis because of their standing as the country’s closest neighbors.

The ASEAN members highlighted the use of consensus to strike a deal they can all agree on. The arms embargo that they disagree on is one of the option brought up in the resolution.

Instead, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries called for more attention to the “unconditional” freeing of nine political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under arrest since Myanmar’s military forces launched their coup on February 1.

ASEAN has been attempting to facilitate dialogue between Myanmar’s military junta and their civilian opposition, particularly after an emergency regional summit on the crisis that was convened in Jakarta last April.

Source:

https://www.kompas.com/global/read/2021/05/29/075411870/9-negara-asean-termasuk-indonesia-tolak-embargo-senjata-untuk-myanmar?page=all#page2. 

FIKA NURUL ULYA A Giant Express outlet in Mampang Prapatan

Indonesian Labor Organization Warns Giant Supermarket Closures Will Result in 7,000 Layoffs

Indonesian labor organization the Associatiion of Workers Unions or ASPEK has warned that more than 7,000 workers face the possibility of mass layoffs, as Indonesian retailer Hero Gro0up plans to close all Giant supermarket outlets in the country by the end of 2021.

“I heard from the Hero Group labor union that they will lay off [Giant’s] 7,000 strong workforce, once they close all Giant stores,” said ASPEK President Mirah Sumirat on Friday.

She treated assurances by Hero’s management that the workers will be reassigned to branches of Hero Supermarket or IKEA with skepticism, on grounds there are only five outlets between them.

“Giant has been laying off its workers over the past two years, on grounds that they have been losing Rp. 1 trillion [$69,898,786] over this time period.,” she said. “The losses are hastened by the Covid-19 pandemic.

She called on the company to be transparent with their reasons for the move, and to raise the matter Ministry of Labor. .

The President of the Indonesian Confederation of Workers’ Union or KSPI Said Iqbal also hoped that Hero Group “will employ 75 percent of ex-Giant supermarket employees, and that the company will respect their rights instead of the Omnibus Law, which is known to support company owners.

Source:

https://money.kompas.com/read/2021/05/28/213100626/serikat-pekerja--7.000-karyawan-giant-terancam-phk?page=all#page2. 

SHUTTERSTOCK Example of an arrest

Six People in Maluku Provice Arrested For Selling Fake Antigen Rapid Test Results

Police in the Indonesian province of Maluku have named six people as suspects in the sale of fake results for antigen rapid tests as well as Genose devices on Friday, a day after they arrested the ring for their illegal activities in the provincial capital Ambon.

“The members of the syndicate came from different professions and walks of life,” said Maluku Regional Police spokesman Police Grand Commissioner Muhamad Roem Ohoirat to Kompas.com.

“40 year-old H is a civil servant at a publich health clinic, while 26 year-old R and 38 year-old M are employees of the Angkasa Pura airline insurance company. Their accomplices 49 year-old R and 34 year-old H work in a travel bureau, while AY Patty Ambon and 40 year-old S run a computer rental.”

Roem added that the police confiscated Rp. 14.7 million [$1,027.51], computers, a printer and a stamp for their activities. He did not say how long the ring operated. Roem added that the police charged them with fraud. If found guilty they face up to six years in prison.

Source:

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/05/28/215702178/jadi-tersangka-6-orang-yang-terlibat-bisnis-surat-rapid-antigen-palsu?page=all#page2