May 20, 2021
Health minister accuses "many regions" of reducing testing to become green zones + Central government continues to promote "Work from Bali" + Gilimanuk-Mengwi toll road megaproject speeding up + 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: After 3 days of new Covid-19 cases in the mid-70s (74, 74, 79), Bali's total jumped to 112 yesterday, with 9 deaths. Numbers dropped significantly over the Eid holiday due to reduced testing capacity, so it's likely we'll continue seeing higher numbers this week.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Minister of Health Accuses Many Regions of Intentionally Reducing Corona Testing to Become Green Zone" from Detik (Indonesian): Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said there were several areas that had deliberately reduced the number of daily Corona tests so that case findings in their area were small so that they entered the green zone or low-risk area for COVID-19. "This is like intel, if our intel is off guard, [the results] look good, then suddenly the terrorists get in and the bomb explodes," he said. Minimizing testing will certainly worsen the pandemic conditions.
Context: The health minister did not specify which regions were minimizing testing to achieve green zone status.
"Indonesia Continues to Promote ‘Work From Bali’ Initiative to Revive Local Economy" from Coconuts Bali: Seven ministries in Indonesia are signing on to support the Work From Bali program, as efforts continue to revive the province’s deeply battered economy. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan signed an MoU with hotels in The Nusa Dua complex, which will see them host employees from the seven ministries under his supervision for stays and events. “This memorandum of understanding was made as part of an effort to support tourism in The Nusa Dua, Bali under the principles of good corporate governance." The Nusa Dua refers to a tourism complex helmed by state-owned Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), housing more than a dozen hotels, conference and cultural venues, and a shopping center, among other facilities. “Hopefully Work From Bali can attract professionals from the government sector and business sector to make sure there is an increase in hotel occupancy,” Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said.
"Bali Provincial Government to Form Land Acquisition Committee for Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The plan for the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road megaproject seems to have really been accelerated by the government. After completing a project feasibility study, now the megaproject stage has entered the environmental impact analysis phase or Amdal. In fact, the Head of the Bali Province Housing and Settlement Area Public Works (PUPRKIM) Office, Nusakti Yasa Weda, said that currently, his party is making the basic design of the toll road. If it is approved, then the next stage will enter the location determination stage or Penlok. The Gilimanuk (Jembrana)-Mengwi (Badung) Toll Road megaproject will be up to 95 kilometers and cost up to Rp.14 trillion, which will come from the private sector.
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Other Headlines
"Kadin National Conference in Bali June 2021, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno: More Than 2,000 Rooms Have Been Booked" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The National Conference (Munas) of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) VIII will be held in Bali in June 2021. "This event involving several locations in Nusa Dua can be a training ground for organizing large events in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic," said Sandiaga. “The VIII Kadin Munas will have an economic impact, which we hope will be very positive, especially for Bali."
Vaccination Update
"Ready For Clinical Trials, Red and White Vaccine Enters Government Vaccination Program" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): Spokesperson for the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Prof. Wiku Adisasmito, ensured that the Red and White Vaccine made by Indonesian citizens would be included in the government's vaccination program. "The Red and White vaccine is currently entering pre-clinical trials in large animals. After successful pre-clinical trials on animals, clinical trials will be continued on volunteers. It was previously stated that in an effort to accelerate the development of the Red and White Vaccine it was a collaboration of research institutions including non-ministerial government agencies and universities, such as LBM Eijkman, LIPI, University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology, Airlangga University and Gajah Mada University.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia Secures Supply Deal for 15 Million Sinopharm Vaccine Doses" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "Novavax and Pfizer Vaccines Arrive in Indonesia in July" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Buleleng: "10,000 Doses of Astrazeneca Vaccine Remain after Vaccination Drive" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Denpasar City Government Prioritizes 400 Elderly for Covid-19 Vaccines" from Republika (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Hundreds of Pemecutan Kaja Villagers Join Covid-19 Vaccination" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
"Back to 3 Digits, These 4 Orange Zones are Contributors of Most Additional Covid-19 Cases" from Bali Post (Indonesian): Additional Balinese infected with COVID-19 on Wednesday returned to three digits. The total was 112 people, consisting of 102 local transmissions, 9 domestic travelers (PPDN), and 1 international traveler (PPLN). The four orange zones are Denpasar with 39 new cases, Badung with 30, Bangli with 18, and Buleleng with 11. The top five districts/cities with the most cumulative cases are Denpasar with 14,737, Badung 8,714, Gianyar 5,263, Tabanan 4,679, and Buleleng 3,923.
More...
Nation: "Minister Urges Returning Migrant Workers to Undergo Genome Sequencing" from Antara
Badung: "Six Tourist Objects Installed GeNose C19, Already Operating in Uluwatu" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Hiding in a Ferry, 4 People Netted in Confinement When Arriving in Bali" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Wave of Backflow Increases, Tens of Thousands of People Have Entered Bali" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Dozens of Residents Caught Using Expired Rapid Test Certificates" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Blockage of Backflow at Padangbai Port is Extended to May 25" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Predicted to Increase, Tabanan Ensures Sufficient Covid-19 Isolation Space" from IDN Times Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
Province: "126,000 Bali Customers Take Advantage of New PLN Mobile Application" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: "Not Waiting for Center, Persi Bali Will Immediately Move for Medical Tourism Program" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Gianyar: "PDAM Gianyar Pipe Network Damaged, East Gianyar Residents Asked for Water Supply" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
NTB: "The Alas Strait to Become Green Economic Zone" from Bisnis Bali (Indonesian)
Education
Province: "Six New SMA/SMK Schools Ready to Accept Students" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "All Junior High Schools in Tabanan Apply PPDB Online Starting June" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Badung Has 44,000 Non-permanent Residents, the Largest Number Are in This Sub-district" from Bali Post (Indonesian): The population mobility in Badung Regency after Eid has certainly increased. For this reason, the local Population and Civil Registration Service (Dukcapil) has carried out control measures over non-permanent residents in its territory. According to Head of Dukcapil, AA Ngr., the largest number of non-permanent residents was recorded in South Kuta District, reaching 18,432 people. Followed by Kuta 11,178 people. "The total number of non-permanent residents recorded as of May 18 reached 44,024 people, while the current population of Badung is 507,418 people," he explained. Kasatpol PP Badung, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara said he would conduct an inspection of residents in villages/sub-districts of the Badung area after May 24.
"Indonesian LGBT+ Magazines Find a Second Life Online" from Reuters: Two men embracing on a magazine cover was more than risqué for Indonesia, thought LGBT+ researcher Ais, when he first discovered a trove of retro LGBT+ zines in Bali last year. "Suddenly it felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself," said Ais, 29. "Turns out I have a history." The LGBT+ zines, or community-based publications printed in small batches, were distributed across the Indonesian archipelago during the 1980s and 1990s, a sign of more permissive times in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Although homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, with the exception of sharia-ruled Aceh province where same-sex relations are banned, it is generally considered a taboo subject. The find gave Ais and Beau Newham, an Australian who works in HIV prevention and support, the impetus to digitise as many LGBT+ zines as they could find by scanning old copies and posting them online. Their website Queer Indonesia Archive went live last June.
"Sumberklampok Resident Tattoos Land Rights Certificate on His Body" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): I Kadek Agus Wijaya, 30, a resident of Banjar Dinas Sumberbatok, Sumberklampok Village, Gerokgak Subdistrict, Buleleng, celebrated his 'victory' in obtaining a Certificate of Ownership (SHM) of land that has been occupied by his family for generations in a unique way. He decided to tattoo his body with the SHM cover picture that was handed over by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, on Tuesday. This father of one child calls his unique celebration an expression of gratitude as well as a memento of historical events in his life. "I want my body to be proof of acceptance of this certificate for my grandchildren in the future,” he said.
Context: Yesterday we included this story about 720 residents of Sumerklampok Village finally receiving land rights after campaigning for them for 61 years.
"Minimizing Differences in Understanding Mixed Marriages" from Bali Post (Indonesian): According to the Head of the Immigration Division of the Bali Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Amrizal, Bali is the most dominant region for mixed marriages [perkawinan campur or perca], with Badung the most dominant regency. Among the perca, most of the foreign partners are Australian, and many of them have problems related to citizenship. Not only for those who undergo perca, but later on their children can also be constrained by citizenship. For this reason, it is hoped that people can be protected by law and become clear citizens, considering that dual citizenship does not apply in Indonesia The Head of the Badung Regency Civil Registration Division, Putu Yudi Atmika, said although many foreigners already have Kitas and Kitap, they are reluctant to report themselves to the civil registration office to become residents in Badung district. For more orderly administration, his party hopes that those who already hold Kitas or Kitap will immediately report themselves to the Civil Registration office.
Of Interest
"Ita Martadinata: Remembering the Victims of the May 1998 Tragedy" from The Jakarta Post
"Citizen Lawsuit Seeks Court’s Help in Battle for Clean Air in Jakarta" from The New York Times
"Shopee Indonesia Closes 13 Product Categories to Foreign Goods" The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
"Buda Kliwon Pahang, the Last in the Series of Galungan Celebrations, Penjor Dismantled" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Jerinx Set for Release After Supreme Court Rejects Latest Appeals" from Coconuts Bali
"The Story of Partiyem's Struggle, a Jamu Seller Who Has Been Selling for More than 20 Years in Bali" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
"Found on Beach, Pangolin Handed Over to Bali Conservation Center" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Bali Police Will Summon Agent Suspected of Cheating on Cruise Ship Workers" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Five Accused Smugglers of 81 kg of Methamphetamine Sentenced to Death" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
"Allegedly Severely Depressed, Yoga Instructor from Spain Committed Suicide" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
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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