Wednesday, November 18
Shakeup at Bali Police as Chief, Deputy & top cops replaced; mirrors moves elsewhere + Govt says rise in cases is due to increased testing & tracing + Tabanan to swab test all govt employees + more!
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Surf Outlook
Weather forecast from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Surf outlook via Windy.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*NOTE: Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers.
The Big News
"Chief Golose, Deputy Chief of Bali Police, Moved to Police Headquarters" from Bali Express (Indonesian): After the Bali Police Chief, Inspector General Petrus Reinhard Golose, was transferred to the National Police Headquarters, the Deputy Head of the Bali Police was also transferred to the same place. At the National Police Headquarters, the one-star general from Bali will serve as Karo RBP Srena Polri, while the position of Deputy Police Chief of Bali will be replaced by Brigadier General Pol. Roycke Harry Langie, who previously served as Karowassidik Bareskrim Polri... Several other key officials were also transferred by the National Police Chief, General Idham Azis. Director of Criminal Investigation of the Bali Police, Kombes Pol. Dodi Rahmawan, was drawn to the Headquarters as Intermediate Policy Analyst for Criminal Investigation at Bareskrim Polri. Director of Binmas Polda Balo Kombes Pol., Komang Suartana, was also drawn to the Headquarters as an Intermediate Policy Analyst for the National Police's Binmas Baharkam Sector. Meanwhile, Karorena Polda Bali Kombes Pol., Joko Tutukonoto, was assigned as an Intermediate Policy Analyst for the Srena Polri, Central Jakarta Sector.
(Ed. Note: In addition to these moves, the heads of the West Java, East Java, and Jakarta Police are also being replaced. While not mentioning the shake-up at the Bali Police, Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, Jazilul Fawaid, said yesterday that the moves in West Java, East Java, and Jakarta reflect a need to better handle the spread of Covid-19. "Law enforcement and ensuring discipline among the community in carrying out health protocols regarding COVID-19 are not easy. There needs to be hard work and special strategy to cultivate awareness and discipline among the people,” he said... Here in Bali, Chairman of the Bali Regional Representative Council (DPRD), I Nyoman Adnyana, hailed Chief Golose, though his praise - notably - did not include any mention of Covid-19: "He has proven [himself] (by) controlling thugs (and) drugs. Apart from the human side with its imperfections, in general Bali is more controlled from the security and order sector. His figure (Petrus Golose) is also firm, disciplined and courageous. That's what I appreciate." He also noted that Golose's replacement, Inspector General Pol Putu Jayan Danu Putra, is a "local son," and will "be more able to explore and protect so that the wishes of the Balinese people about security, order and so on are more real and humane.")
"Covid-19 Cases in Bali Rise Again, Health Office Calls it Because Tracing Increases" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Positive cases of Covid-19 in Bali have risen again, even though they had previously sloped. The increase is due to the increasing number of positive tracing cases. "Within a week it has risen somewhat because we have increased tracing. The case is around 600 a week," said Head of the Bali Health Service , Ketut Suarjaya. The number of swab samples examined also increased due to increased tracing from positive cases. "A day there are 1,200 samples. Previously 800-900 samples," he said... However, Suarjaya said that in general the development of the Covid-19 case in Bali was relatively gentle. This is because the positivity rate in the last two weeks has decreased. Suarjaya said, the positivity rate in the first week of November 2020 was still 9%, then in the second week it fell to 7%. According to him, the availability of beds (bed ratio) in hospitals and isolation facilities is still sufficient. The bed occupancy rate reaches 30%-40%. There are still 1,300 beds available.
"Fighting Covid-19 Transmission, Tabanan Plans Bulk Swab Testing for ASN" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Tabanan government plans to conduct mass swab tests on all state civil servants (ASN) in the Tabanan Regency Government. The mass swab test is being carried out to reduce the number of Covid-19 transmission so that Tabanan, which is still in the orange zone, can be relegated to the green zone. "So it is not enough to implement 3M's health protocol. Wash your hands, keep your distance and use a mask. There should also be a mass swab test,” said Secretary of Tabanan Gede Susila. According to Susila, currently the Covid-19 mass swab test process is still at the Tabanan Police (Police), later it will continue to ASN in the Tabanan Regency Government.
>> Classifieds <<
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Other Headlines
"1,031 ASNs in Buleleng Complete Swab Testing" from Antara (Indonesian): "In the latest swab, one government worker (ASN) was confirmed positive," said the Secretary of Buleleng's COVID-19 Task Force and Regional Secretary (Sekda), Gede Suyasa. "The Buleleng Regency Government has proposed as many as a thousand more reagents to the Provincial Government for the next test phase," said Suyasa.
(Ed. Note: According to this report, there are an additional 9,500 government workers and election officials who still need to be tested in Buleleng.)
"Giant Sperm Whale Found Floating on Denpasar Beach" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): A sperm whale was found dead in the coastal area of Serangan, South Denpasar. The whale carcass, weighing an estimated 2 tons and 10 meters long, was found near the Serangan beach pier, Tuesday (11/17/2020). The body of the largest marine mammal was found rotting with scars on its body. Head of BPSPL Denpasar, Permana Yudiarso said that his party is currently still looking for ways to evacuate the whale carcass. It is still being considered whether the carcass will be evacuated ashore and then buried or just drowned in the seabed. "We will find the nearest location to be handled immediately. Will it be buried or drowned later," he said.
"Dear Garuda, the Governor of Bali Asked for Discount Air Ticket Prices to Bali" from Detik (Indonesian): Bali Governor I Wayan Koster insinuated that Garuda Indonesia set ticket rates to Bali quite expensive. He wants tourists to come by plane to Bali comfortably. Koster also asked the Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs Teten Masduki to convey this statement by the Minister of BUMN Erick Tohir... "The minister, if you can join the campaign, if you get on the plane it is comfortable. Only we really have to talk to Garuda so that there is a discount on tickets to Bali now because maybe the passengers have to be 70% - 80%, whose business is usually increased twice, usually the Denpasar - Jakarta business. round trip (PP) 7 to 8 million now 14 to 15 million is very expensive," said Koster.
"6 Women Complete Cycling 1,282 Km from Jakarta-Bali" from Detik (Indonesian): After traveling by bicycle for 14 days, 6 women from the Women Cycling Community (WCC) finally finished on the island of Bali. They did this trip to restore Bali tourism. The total journey they took was 1,282 km from Jakarta to Bali. They started their journey on November 1 and finished November 14. "There are no words that can describe our happiness at this time! Very grateful and very satisfied, because we were originally only women who had concern about what was happening in Bali because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for us and the people of Bali. Starting with this good intention, We agreed to go on a trip that at first felt that others were far from possible," said Trilara Prasetya Rina.
"Indonesia Sees 3.8% Foreign Debt Growth in Q3, BI Says Debt-to-GDP Still 'Healthy'" from The Jakarta Post: Foreign debt has risen in the third quarter of the year, due to the government’s samurai bond issuances and borrowed funds from multilateral organizations to finance coronavirus relief packages and economic stimulus toward recovery, according to Bank Indonesia (BI) data on Monday. Indonesia’s external debt, which includes government and private-sector borrowings, reached US$408.5 billion by the end of the third quarter, up 3.8 percent year-on-year (yoy) but down from $413.4 billion in August, as the private sector paid their debts.
"Indonesia Posts Trade Surplus of US$3.61 billion in October 2020" from Antara: Indonesia enjoyed a trade surplus of US$3.6 billion in October 2020, with export value totaling US$14.39 billion and imports valued at US$10.78 billion, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The trade surplus in September 2020 was recorded at US$2.39 billion. Non-oil and gas exports in October 2020 reached US$13.76 billion, increasing 3.54% as compared to September 2020, or a decrease of 1.84% from that in October 2019. Cumulatively, the value of Indonesia's exports from January to October 2020 had reached US$131.54 billion, or down by 5.58% over the corresponding period in 2019. Similarly, non-oil and gas exports were valued at US$125 billion, or a 3.62% drop.
"Sales of Premium Gasoline Across Java-Bali to Stop" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) stated that sales of Premium fuel oil (BBM) in Java, Madura and Bali (Jamali) will stop in 2021. Director General of Pollution and Environmental Damage Control (PPKL) MR Karliansyah said the Ministry issued a Ministerial Regulation on Quality Standards for New Motor Vehicle Exhaust Emissions for Categories M, N and O. The policy reduces the maximum level of sulfur in gasoline and diesel from 500 ppm to 50 ppm... Unfortunately, in the midst of these efforts, gasoline sales data still shows premium and pertalite which has RON below 91 still dominates. Premium, which has RON 88 numbers, still dominates 55 percent of gasoline sales and Pertalite, which has RON 90, occupies 33 percent of sales. According to him, the quality of environmentally friendly fuel is more expensive than low quality, so people who want to buy low quality fuel.
(Ed. Note: Since this story broke yesterday, there’s been clarification that 14 of the 190 gas stations in Bali that currently sell premium-grade gasoline will continue to carry it after January 2021.Each district will retain 2 locations with the fuel, except for Denpasar and Gianyar. Click here for a recent explainer on premium fuel and why it’s almost never worth buying.)
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 newsletter@migrationmedia.net.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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