November 22, 2021
Fireworks banned over New Years + Bali a shadow of its former self + Badung Police Project Zebra targets prokes violators + more
Good morning!
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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
Note: The seven-day average of new cases has remained below ten per day for six days. Cases in treatment are growing steadily though, with no new recovered cases since November 13, with two fatalities over the same period.
The Big News
“Fireworks Banned in Bali During 2022 New Year Celebration” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): The Provincial Government of Bali will prohibit the implementation of fireworks parties in the context of celebrating the 2022 new year. This decision relates to the prohibition of fireworks and processions that cause large crowds from the central government. This decision was implemented to suppress the spread of Covid-19. According to the Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, his party has banned fireworks on New Year's Eve since the Covid-19 outbreak in the archipelago. "For fireworks parties, since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Indonesia, including the island of Bali, we have banned fireworks parties during New Year's Eve celebrations or New Year's Eve, until now," he said on Saturday.
“Bali a Shadow of Its Former Self” from Nikkei Asia: A month on from the reopening of Bali’s airport to international flights, the island remains a shadow of its former self, with shuttered shops and restaurants dominating its once-bustling streets, and little to no sign of overseas visitors. One travel industry insider said government ministries may not be singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to reopening. The thinking, the person said, may be that while the tourism ministry, for obvious reasons, has pushed for reopening, other ministries are more cautious and want to make sure COVID cases remain low, leading to layers of bureaucracy that put off tourists. Marco Groten, the area vice president for Indonesia at Hyatt Hotels, highlighted the country's visa process as a barrier. "The current tourist visa [scheme] is rather cumbersome ... As a tourist [Indonesia] does not make it [easy enough] for tourists to come," he said. The process is "almost impossible to do yourself" and costs at least is 3.5 million rupiah, he said.
Context: This is a long story with many stories of hardship from Balinese people involved in the tourism industry.
“Grand Zebra Operation 2021, Badung Police Targets Prokes Violators” from Antara Bali (Indonesian): The Badung Police, Bali will hold a large-scale patrol targeting illegal racing, reckless road users and health protocol violators, in the 2021 Grand Zebra Operation. "The target of our operation this time, especially the reckless road users, illegal races, motorists who use exhausts that can disrupt public order, and people who violate health procedures," said Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Leo Dedy Defretes on Sunday. He said the form of the Grand Zebra Operation 2021 was an anticipatory or preventive measure against violators of health protocols such as crowds or violations of the Minister of Home Affairs Instruction number 53 of 2021 against the COVID-19 Emergency PPKM Level 2.
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Other Headlines
“Indonesia Hosts World Superbike Finale on Brand-new Circuit” from AP: The final Superbike World Championship round on Lombok drew tens of thousands of fans on Sunday, the biggest crowd for any event in the country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The crowd at the newly built Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit surpassed 20,000 on the final day on Sunday, said Cahyadi Wanda, the vice president director of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association. The new 4.3-kilometer circuit has 17 corners and 40 garages and a 507-meter start-to-finish straight. The grandstand can accommodate up to 50,000 people and the total capacity is 200,000. The world championship was Indonesia’s first big international motorbike race in more than two decades in what authorities said was being eyed as a launchpad for the revival of tourism in one of the country’s most popular destinations.
Context: Other reports noted that the race was watched by 1.6 billion people (Indonesian), that the race will revitalise Lombok’s economy (Indonesian) and will breath new life into Jokowi’s ambitions. Also see below for a story regarding allegations local dogs were poisoned before the race.
Vaccination Update
“Indonesia Voices Concern Over Global Vaccine Inequity” from The Jakarta Globe: Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi once again called for Covid-19 vaccine equity, while also voicing her concern over the large gap in the vaccine coverage between rich and poor nations. “Vaccines will be scarce, and scarce goods are often sold to the highest bidder only. This is exactly what is happening right now,” Retno said on Saturday. “[About] 64.99% of people in high income countries have been vaccinated with at least one dose, compared to 6.48% in low income countries,” Retno said. According to the minister, more than 80% of vaccines have gone to G20 countries, with poorer nations only receiving 0.4%.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Receives 4.8 Million Astrazeneca and Moderna Doses” from Antara
Nation: “Indonesia Stresses Need for Raising Global Vaccine Production” from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
“Indonesians Over 60 Prioritized to Receive Influenza Vaccination” from Antara: The Indonesian Society for Internal Medicine Adult Immunization Task Force Head Prof. Samsuridjal Djauzi called to prioritize Indonesian elderly, currently 60 years of age and above, to receive the influenza vaccination. "Despite WHO recommending the age limit to be at least 65 years, the adult immunization task force and our geriatrician association have agreed to push the vaccination for elderly, who are at least 60 years of age," Djauzi said on Friday. The task force head highlighted that physical endurance and immunity of the elderly had declined when they live beyond 60 years of age.
More...
Nation: “Government Wary of Increasing Covid-19 in Europe and US” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Nation: “Ministry Encourages More Research on Spices for Health Benefits” from Antara
Province: “The Compliance Rate for the Use of Masks in Bali Reaches 98%” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
“New Bali Airport Constrained by Air Space” from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The discourse on the construction of a new airport in North Bali will face a number of challenges. This was revealed in the discussion of the Detailed Spatial Plan for the New Bali Airport which was held on Thursday. If the airport is built in Sumberklampok Village, it is certain that there will be limited air space movement. Because there are several airports close to Sumberklampok Village. Among them are Banyuwangi Airport which is only about 43 kilometers from Sumberklampok Village. The airport is used as a passenger airport. There is also an airfield of Lt. Col. Wisnu in Sumberkima Village, which is about 21 kilometers from Sumberklampok Village. The airport is widely used as a pilot training location.
More...
Nation: “Indonesia Prepares Regulation to Help Fund Mangrove Restoration” from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall)
Nation: “Ministry Launches Websites to Promote Indonesian Fishery Products” from Antara
Province: “Bali 2022 UMP Increases by IDR 22,971 to IDR 2,516,971” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Province: “Super Air Jet Expected to Boost Tourism” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Bali Reopening
“Foreign Tourists Don't Come to Bali” from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Ahead of the year-end holidays, not a single foreign tourist has come for a vacation on Bali. In response to this, the Bali Rise Forum, which consists of a collection of 34 Bali tourism stakeholders, wrote to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo on Friday. The chairman of the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association Bali, Yoga Iswara, said that this open letter was the most climactic step used to convey that Bali's economy is really being threatened.
Context: While the above story covers some of the same ground of the Nikkei story in the Big News section, it is notable for the Bali Rise Forum writing to the Central Government regarding the situation. Elsewhere, this report from CNN Indonesia noted that 43 foreign tourists have visited Ubud (Indonesian).
More...
“Qatar Airways Optimistic of Flying to Bali Three Times a Day” from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
“Tourism Ministry Committed to Boosting Wellness Tourism Industry” from Antara
“Ministry of Tourism Determines Denpasar to be a Creative City” from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
“Death of Dogs near Mandalika Circuit; Villagers Suspect Foul Play” from Tempo: An undesirable stench has unfortunately emerged during the international motorsport event in Central Lombok’s newly-built Mandalika Circuit on Sunday, as nearby Ebunut Village residents discovered neighborhood dogs had suddenly died, and alleges that the dogs were intentionally poisoned. An Ebunut villager Kamil recalls burying four of his neighbor’s dogs and one of his, which he strongly believes had been poisoned to death. He claims a number of people had visited the village at night to search for dogs in the area days ahead of WSBK. Asked about news, event organizer ITDC through its VP corporate secretary Miranti Nasti Rendranti said the issue regarding the dogs is that they must block the animals from entering the circuit, especially the paddock area, “as it will be disturbance and safety hazard for the riders and the event itself,” Rendranti said on Saturday.
Of Interest
“Entrance from Gilimanuk Tightened” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
“Candra Teuku Umar's Warung Babi Guling Burns Down” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“After Serving a 13.5-year Sentence, Malaysian Will Be Expelled” from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
“Foreigner Apologises for Dressing up in Police Uniform” from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
“Banana Tree Owners on Guard as ‘Salam Dari Binjai’ Trend Invades Bali” from Coconuts Bali
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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