June 11, 2021
June 11, 2021
Bali governor asks president for province to be opened end of July + Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road megaproject prone to conflict says district attorney + Garuda grounds two-thirds of its fleet + more
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: There was an almost 50% jump in new cases recorded yesterday; after Wednesday’s 37, Thursday’s total rose to 61, pushing the 7-day average up to 39. There was 1 recorded death. There is a big difference between fatality totals last month and this month; by this stage in May there were 78 deaths, while this month’s total so far is 13.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Bali Governor Asks Jokowi for Bali to Be Opened End of July" from Detik (Indonesian): Bali Governor Wayan Koster was invited to attend a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace on Monday. Koster requested that Bali be opened for foreign tourists "on a limited basis" at the end of July. In addition, Koster requested an additional 3 million doses of vaccine so that vaccinations in Bali could be completed in July 2021. Because, so far, Bali has only received 3 million doses of vaccine from the total demand of 6 million. Until June 6, 2021, Koster explained, the first injection vaccination in Bali has reached more than 1.4 million people (47% of the targeted 3 million) and the second injection has reached more than 659,000 (22%).
Context: Elsewhere it was reported that Koster submitted a list of requests to Jokowi. In addition to the two above, he asked that incentives be provided to domestic tourists to encourage them to travel to Bali; that the Work From Bali program be extended to all central government ministries and institutions; that national and international meetings in Bali be increased; that the tourism grant program for travel sector members be continued; that Bali's district/municipal governments be supported; that loan installment periods for tourism stakeholders be extended; and that soft loans be granted to tourism stakeholders.
"District Attorney Says Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road Plan Prone to Conflict" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The initial socialization and data collection of plans for the construction of the Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road section in Jembrana ended Thursday. So far, there has been no upheaval against this toll road construction plan, but the potential for conflict is prone to occur, so it must be watched out for. "Don't let people get noisy later because they feel they don't get socialization," said Jembrana District Attorney (Kajari) Triono Rahyudi, during the socialization in Kaliakah Village. According to the Jembrana Kajari, the potential for conflict over plans for the Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road is very large, especially with regard to land acquisition. The Kajari said that the toll road development plan provides space for the community for consultation and assistance to the community, especially those related to law.
"Garuda Grounds Two Thirds of Its Fleet" from The Jakarta Post: National carrier Garuda Indonesia has grounded two-thirds of its fleet, citing leasing issues and maintenance needs. Garuda wrote in a statement filed with the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) that it was only operating 53 airplanes of the 142 in its fleet. The company added that of the non-operational planes, 39 were under maintenance. It did not specify the status of the 50 remaining aircraft, most of which are Boeing 737-800s and Bombardier CRJ1000s. “The pandemic reduced the number of aircraft in operation such that only 53 aircraft are in operation for the company’s business operations at the moment,” management wrote. The publicly listed company has been facing deep financial problems because of record low domestic and international air travel demand. The carrier, which leases 95% of its fleet, is seeking to return many of its leased planes to cut back on operational expenses.
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Other Headlines
"2,702 Balinese Cruise Workers Have Returned to Sailing" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): After almost a year and a half of unemployment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, now Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Bali have returned to work abroad. This is good news for PMI from Bali, especially those who work on cruise ships. Head of the Bali Province Manpower and ESDM Office, Ida Bagus Ngurah Arda, said this number is still relatively small from the total PMI from Bali who were repatriated because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was 15,742 people. Protection for PMI from Bali before returning to work includes socialization and information dissemination, Social Security programs, legal assistance, facilitation of capital strengthening funds, and facilitation to increase work competence.
Vaccination Update
"Ministry of Health Ensures General Public Vaccinations Begin in Early July" from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) said the third phase of the national Covid-19 vaccination program targeting hundreds of millions of vulnerable people and the general public would start in early July 2021. Spokesperson for Vaccination from the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said the first stage targeted 1.4 million health workers, then the second phase in parallel targeted 21.5 million elderly and 17.4 public service workers. Then the third stage will target 141.3 million people over the age of 18. Nadia emphasized that the Ministry of Health has decided to streamline the stages of vaccination from the initial four stages to three stages. Stages three and four have been merged. Initially, the third stage targeted vulnerable communities, which were as many as 63.9 million people. Furthermore, the fourth stage targets as many as 77.4 million people who are the wider community and other economic actors in accordance with the availability of vaccines. "Currently there is no stage 4. Combined, the target is 141.3 million people," she said.
More...
Buleleng: "By End of July, 70% of Buleleng Residents Will Be Vaccinated" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
Nation: "Task Force: Increase in Covid-19 Cases After Eid Lower than 2020" from Liputan6
Bangli: "Prokes Raid, Joint Team Finds Residents Not Wearing Masks" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "40 Mask Violators Netted in Denpasar Within an Hour, Rp.2.2 Million Collected in Fines" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "19 Residents Netted in Prokes Raid on Jalan Sutoyo" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
Nation: "Unemployment Rate Dropped Thanks to Social Protection Program" from Antara
Province: "Potential Transactions for Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2021 Reach R.3.7 Trillion" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Canceled, Head of GIPI Bali: We Lost Potential Income of Rp.35 Billion" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Bali Provincial Government Disburses Total Budget of Rp.7.7 Billion for Bali Arts Festival" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Market Traders Association Bali Chapter Rejects VAT Policy on Basic Foods" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Meaning of Sembako, 9 Types of Official Basic Foods from Government" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "Interest in Tobacco Farming Drops Due to Pandemic" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Mundukwaru Forest Cleared, Regent Tamba Furious" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Tabanan Regional Secretary Says 13th Month Salary Still Being Processed" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Education
"Confused About Back-to-school? Here's What We've Learned So Far" from The Jakarta Post: As Indonesia looks to reopening schools in most provinces as the new academic year commences on July 13, parents are feeling either eager or wary about sending their children back to physical classrooms. Their confusion is only natural. The lack of cohesive, consistent information as the days count down has made it difficult to truly understand how in-class learning will work so they can make the best decisions. Based on the government’s classroom capacity guidelines, some students will attend class in person while others learn at home under a rotation system, so everyone gets to go to school on certain days. But how the system is applied depends on the school. One school might divide classes equally per grade level, while another might give more in-class time for ninth and 12th graders. The rotation schedule and student slots will also depend on how many parents agree to let their children go to school.
"110,000 Households in Bali to Be Installed With Solar Panels" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): Chairman of the Indonesian Solar Energy Association (AESI), Fabby Tumiwa, explained that his party is targeting 110,000 households in Bali to install solar panels. This step is taken to accelerate the use of clean energy or renewable energy (EBT) on the Island of the Gods. This number represents the potential market for solar module consumers of 9-11% of the total number of households in Bali, which is as many as 1.1 million. With the hotel segment and shophouses, the market will be wider. "Early adopters are those who have been interested in solar panel technology since the beginning and want to apply it to their homes. Nationally, there are around 2%, and 9-11% is an addition to the number of early adopters, i.e. people who are interested, financially able and willing to start participating."
"Condominium Hotel Developers Must Give 20% to Community, Badung Secretary Says it Doesn't Happen" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Badung Regional Secretary I Wayan Adi Arnawa said that the regulation and development of condominium hotels (condotels) was directed at increasing the usability and of land or land use. Developers, he continued, are obliged to give 20% to the general public, but the reality on the ground is different. "People are not receiving in accordance with the existing regulations." Adi Arnawa said that many condotels under the guise of public flats are also a violation. Commercial flats or apartments are built to be sold to upper middle class consumers. Meanwhile, Head of Perkim Office, AA Ngurah Bayu Kumara Putra, said, "Every construction of commercial flats is required to build public flats by 20%." If it is not followed, a criminal offense of at least 2 years and a maximum fine of 2 billion will be imposed.
"Work From Sanur Ready to Support Bali Tourism Recovery" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian): Chairperson of the Denpasar chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), IB Gede Sidartha Putra, said, "Work From Bali is still wide, it can be anywhere in Bali, but here we offer Sanur to be an option for those who will Work From Bali, and we call it Work From Sanur." This is not without reason, previously the Sanur area, Denpasar has been designated a Covid-19 green zone for the application of the Free Covid Corridor. Where the green zone area in Sanur includes Sanur Kaja Village, Sanur Village, and Sanur Kauh Village. And thousands of residents and workers in the region have received the first and second stages of the Covid-19 vaccine. "We are optimistic that Sanur is ready to become a Green Zone Destination that will support Bali tourism recovery programs planned by the Government, including Work From Bali with the Work From Sanur option."
"Bali Named Most Popular Destination in the World and Asia in TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Awards 2021" from Kompas (Indonesian): For the world category, Bali beat a number of tourist destinations including London in England, Dubai in the UAE, and Rome in Italy. Meanwhile, for the Asia category, Bali is still in the first position. The province is above other tourist attractions including Hanoi in Vietnam, Bangkok in Thailand, and Hoi An in Vietnam. Besides Bali, Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara is also included in the list of most popular tourist destinations in Asia in 2021. The island is ranked 22nd with several recommended destinations, including Gili Meno Beach, Mount Rinjani, and Selong Belanak Beach.
Some Covid Context
"China Returns to its Strict Covid Limits to Fight a New Outbreak" from The New York Times: Many businesses expect that China may retain stringent travel restrictions through February, when Beijing will host the Winter Olympics, and possibly through autumn of next year, when the Chinese Communist Party will hold its party congress. The spread of the virus has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of China’s vaccines, particularly against variants. The Seychelles last month and now Mongolia in the past three weeks have both had large numbers of infections despite high vaccination rates. Both have used the Sinopharm vaccine from China, although the Seychelles also relied partly on AstraZeneca vaccines.
Of Interest
"Indosat Ooredoo Launches SheHacks 2021 to Support Gender Equality Through Technology" from The Jakarta Post
"Andrian Sumantri and Elrika Trisna Become Language Ambassadors for Bali Province 2021" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Selling Methamphetamine From Kerobokan Cell, 17-year-old Inmate Threatened With Death Sentence" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Police Thwart Two Men Smuggling 30,000 Lobster Larvae" from Antara
"School Principal in NTT Stabbed to Death by Student’s Parent" from Coconuts Bali
"Jakarta Police Ask McDonald's to Discontinue BTS Meal Following Launch Day Frenzy" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Medical Garbage Disposer Allegedly Sanjiwani Hospital Personnel" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"After Week of Not Going Out, Middle-aged Man Found Dead in Hotel Room" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Hundreds of Baby Turtles Released on Sanur Beach" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Killer of Slovak Woman in Sanur Sentenced to 20 Years" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Weekend Reads
"From the Shadows, Indonesian LGBT-owned SMEs Looking to Shine" from The Jakarta Post
"The Lag in Covid-survivor Traveloka’s US$5 Billion SPAC Flight" from The Ken (Metered Paywall)
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly found themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves at BaliSolidarity.org. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
About This Newsletter
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