The Jakarta Post 1 Juli 2022

FRIDAY JULY 1, 2022 | TWELVE PAGES VOL. 40 NO. 053 | SINGLE COPY RP 9,500 SUBSCRIPTION Features The Jakarta Post @jakpostimages Print & Digital Rp 225,000/month Hotline: +6281280031314 Surabaya’s best musical storytellers are back @jakpost The Jakarta Post (excluding delivery fee) www.thejakartapost.com in business 12PAGE Prplaerawjopevctuoitannsncpesewlit Jakarta encroaching on locals’ rights, critics say Nur Janti International Indonesia hosted a AFP/Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev press conference to express their The Jakarta Post/Jakarta opposition to the laws. Diplomatic talks: Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with President Joko \"Jokowi\" Widodo at the Kremlin in Moscow The House of Representatives on Thursday. unanimously passed a set of laws They criticized lawmakers and on Thursday to establish new the executive for pressing ahead Russia ready to fulfill Indonesia’s demand for fertilizers administrative units in Papua, with the major redistricting plans in what critics say could under- without listening to the voices of A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil sian people cared about what hap- President’s visit to Ukraine. would be around 55 million tons mine indigenous rights and stoke indigenous Papuans. pened in the European country. “This […] is the first visit of the of wheat that Ukrainian farmers further tensions in the restive The Jakarta Post/Jakarta would soon harvest. region. Amnesty International Indo- Russia is ready to fulfill Indone- “It is important for all stake- leader of an Asian state to Kyiv nesia executive director Usman sia's demand for fertilizers, Pres- holders to provide safety for since the beginning of the full- “If [wheat] cannot be export- The legislation has carved Hamid asked why policymak- ident Vladimir Putin told report- Ukrainian food exports, including scale Russian war. We really ap- ed from [Ukraine], then it will be three new provinces out of what ers had pushed the legislation ers after meeting with Indonesian from seaports. I support what the preciate it and are thankful to a headache for everyone in the was previously the province through so rapidly when the MRP President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo United Nations has done to sup- you,” Zelensky said in a statement world. There are some 77 million of Papua: South Papua, Cen- was still challenging the auton- in Moscow on Thursday. port this,” he said. spoken in Ukrainian. tons, imagine if none of that could tral Papua and the Papua High- omy law at the Constitutional get out,” he said. lands. West Papua has remained Court. Putin added that Russia intend- On the peace-seeking front, Zelensky also thanked Jokowi as it was. ed to honor its obligations under Jokowi stressed that Indonesia’s for Indonesia’s “unwavering sup- Foreign Minister Retno LP “This is new evidence that the contracts for the supply of energy, position was firm in that sover- port” for the sovereignty, inde- Marsudi said that currently the “We hope that this will not only government is moving to un- food and fertilizers abroad. eignty and territorial integrity of pendence and territorial integrity export of wheat could only be done reduce conflicts but also bring eq- democratic governance, as there a country must be respected, and of Ukraine, and accepted the G20 from the port in Odessa, which had uitable development to the whole is no such decentralization, Meanwhile, Indonesia will even though peace might be hard invitation. been blockaded with sea mines, al- of Papua,” Ahmad Doli Kurnia, only recentralization of power,” continue cooperation with Rus- to achieve, it was important that ternatively the export would have chair of the House Commis- he said. sia, President Jokowi told report- the conflict ended in a peaceful ”I am grateful to you, Mr. Presi- to be moved by land. sion II overseeing home affairs, ers after the meeting on Thursday. resolution and the spirit of peace dent, for the personal invitation to said on Thursday. MRP chair Timotius Murib, Speaking through a translator, he should never fade. take part in the G20 summit, and, She also said that if Ukraine who attended the civil society also said it was important to move of course, I accept the invitation. could not export its wheat, then the The commission had fast- groups’ press conference, said Ja- toward a peaceful resolution of “I offered to President Zelensky Ukraine’s participation will depend local farmers would be disincentiv- tracked deliberations on the bills karta had been encroaching on the Ukraine-Russia war, Reuters to relay any message to [Russian] on the security situation in the ized leading to further scarcity. so that they could be brought to a the rights of Papuans since the reported. President [Vladimir] Putin, who country and on the composition of House plenary meeting that day. amendment of the autonomy law I will also visit soon,” Jokowi said. participants,” Zelensky said. In a separate meeting, Ret- last year. Speaking through transla- no and Ukrainian Foreign Home Minister Tito Karna- tor, he also said it was important He also said that he was con- On the issue of resuming Ukrai- Affairs Minister Dmytro Kule- vian said at the plenary session “The Papuan people’s trust to move toward a peaceful res- cerned about the humanitarian nian agricultural exports, the ba signed an intergovernmen- that the establishment of the new in the government has been low olution of conflict in Ukraine, impacts of the war in Ukraine, and Ukrainian president said that it tal visa-free agreement, allowing provinces was intended to spur ever since,” he said. Reuters reported. with available resources the Indo- would need the lifting of Russia’s Ukrainians to visit Indonesia vi- development, improve public ser- nesian people and government had blockade of Ukrainian seaports. sa-free for up to 30 days and for vices and create more opportuni- Nabire-Mimika tensions On Wednesday, President been giving aid in the form of medi- Indonesians to visit Ukraine for ties for Papuans to become civil Discord arose between Papuan Jokowi met with Ukrainian Presi- cine and pledged to help in the re- Russia was “blackmailing the up to 30 days within 60 days. servants. dent Volodymyr Zelensky at the construction of hospitals in Kyiv. world with hunger,” as food sup- groups after policymakers an- Mariinsky Palace, Kyiv, as part of plies from Ukraine had played a Zelensky also invited the Indo- Jakarta’s push for redistricting nounced that the city of Nabire a visit to the war-ravaged country Jokowi extended once more In- “stabilizing role” for the world nesian government and private had intensified after the House would be the new capital of Cen- to talk about peace and the im- donesia’s invitation for Zelensky to market, he said. companies to join in reconstruc- passed an amendment to the Pap- tral Papua, in a Jakarta-centered pact the war has had on the global attend the Group of 20 (G20) Sum- tion efforts in Ukraine after the war. uan Special Autonomy Law last decision that drew strong oppo- food supply chain. mit in Bali this November, adding “Tens of millions of tons of year that bypassed the require- sition from the city of Timika in that Indonesia and Ukraine had grain from Ukraine should reach Jokowi continued his peace- ment for the government to con- Mimika regency. In Wednesday’s statement, had 30 years of diplomatic rela- consumers, in particular the peo- building mission by going to Rus- sult with the Papuan People’s As- Jokowi reiterated Ukraine’s im- tions and Indonesia was commit- ple of Indonesia.” sia to meet with President Putin. sembly (MRP), which represents A number of Mimika residents portance to the global food supply ted to strengthening cooperation He arrived in Moscow on Thurs- the region’s indigenous peoples, held a peaceful protest on Thurs- chain. between the two countries. In an interview with Kompas in day afternoon local time after fly- and the local legislative coun- day to demand that Timika be Kyiv, Jokowi said that the global ing from Poland following a sleep- cil (DPRP) before the creation of made the capital instead, kompas. During a joint press conference Food headache food crisis was a big problem that er train ride from Kyiv. new provinces in the region. com reported. after the meeting between the two On his part, Zelensky said he resulted from the war between presidents, Jokowi said his visit to Ukraine and Russia, with up to RELATED STORIES p3 Late last month, the three bills “If the decision is [to make Ukraine showed that the Indone- was grateful for the Indonesian 22 million tons of wheat that EDITORIAL p6 on the new Papuan provinces the capital] Nabire, we will close could not be exported while there were listed as pieces of priority Freeport so that mining opera- legislation. tions cannot run,” one of the pro- INSIDE testers, Antonius Beanal said, as Lawmakers had been scram- quoted by tribunnews.com. Headlines 2PAGE Sports 10PAGE bling to marshal support for the plan from the local elite, with Freeport is a mining com- Govt steps up FMD containment Sweet 16 for Djokovic some representatives visiting pany that controls the largest efforts ahead of Idul Adha as Murray exits Wimbledon Papua last week to meet with re- reserves of gold and copper in gents and inviting senior Papua the world, which are located in Indonesia may not meet EU demand for coal administration officials — who Mimika. also represented Governor Lu- Vincent Fabian Thomas producers were having a hard time to increase production amid surg- cal producers to seize this oppor- kas Enembe — and representa- Meanwhile, Dora Balubun of increasing their production due to ing European Union demand. tunity to take advantage of rising tives from the DPRP to meetings the Tanah Papua Bible Christian The Jakarta Post/Jakarta extreme weather and difficulties in Some mining companies were demand and surging prices, citing in Jakarta. Church, who attended the civil Indonesia may be unable to meet obtaining mining equipment. seeking to boost their production the benefits of foreign exchange groups’ press conference in Ja- increasing demand for coal from plans by undisclosed amounts, income and government revenue. They got the nod, but crit- karta, said the unilateral decision European countries that are look- He pointed out that producers he said. ics have said the Papuan elite do on the new capital could trigger ing to stock up on the dirty fuel had met only 41 percent of their “Firms among our members not represent grassroots voices, further conflict between Nabire source as they reduce energy im- full-year output target by the end However, he added that there have been trying to increase their which have rejected the plan over and Mimika. ports from Russia. of May, implying a possible short- was still no guarantee that pro- production. Some have reported fears that it will be used as a pre- fall in this year’s production. ducers could meet EU demand. that they have received requests text to tighten government re- She noted that the dispute be- Spain, Italy and the Nether- directly from Germany,” Rizqi strictions on Papua. tween the regents of Nabire and lands have joined Germany in “We can’t necessarily increase “This is very positive for us, told the Post on Wednesday. Mimika had been apparent as exploring options to purchase a our production all of a sudden. but that does not mean that we Competing views House members visited Papua larger amount of coal from Indo- We can’t,” Irwandy told reporters can provide all of the EU’s needs Meanwhile, Adhityani “Ditri” As the House held the plena- last week, where they met with nesia, the Energy and Mineral Re- on June 24, adding that Indone- to replace supply from Russia,” Putri, executive director of en- the regents to hear their views. sources Ministry has said. sia had already increased its coal Hendra said, adding that it would ergy transition NGO Indonesia ry session on Thursday, human But the House had insisted on shipments prior to this additional be subject to price negotiations Cerah, said on Wednesday that rights groups including Amnesty passing the bills into law. Previously, Germany was said demand. apart from talks on the amounts European backtracking on coal to have asked for around 150 mil- and quality demanded by the EU. would be temporary. She point- “Lawmakers should have solved lion tons of coal from Indonesia, European countries have been ed to Germany, which pledged to that problem first,” she said. but the ministry said there was no scrambling to source coal from Hendra said producers could retain its commitment to phase formal agreement to that request. many exporting countries to secure not increase their output to such out coal use by 2030, implying the Papua split into five provinces their energy needs amid lower im- a large degree in a very short time. country would remain on track India, which is Indonesia’s sec- ports of coal and gas from Russia. Meanwhile, bad weather had despite the higher coal demand. A set of laws has carved three new ond-largest coal export destina- made it challenging even to meet provinces out of Papua province. tion, has also approached Indo- This month, Russia’s Gazprom current production targets. “We are not worried that it will Papua and West Papua provinces nesia to acquire more coal to meet reduced gas supplies sent to Eu- affect European countries’ com- will remain as they are. its domestic needs. rope through the Nord Stream The government has set a 2022 mitment to the energy transition,” I pipeline, citing the delayed re- coal production target of 663 mil- Ditri told the Post, noting however Indonesia Indonesian coal shipments to turn of equipment being serviced lion tons, but producers expect that the EU’s higher coal use would Germany, Netherlands, Spain, It- by Germany’s Siemens Energy in there will be a shortfall on that result in a spike of greenhouse gas Papua aly, Poland and Switzerland have Canada. Gazprom CEO Alexey figure at the end of this year. emissions this year. increased tremendously over the Miller said sanctions were pre- West Papua first five months of the year com- venting the company from getting Moreover, most Indonesian Her concern was larger with pared with the same period of last the equipment back, Reuters re- coal does not meet the specifica- regard to the domestic situation, Central Papua year, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) ported, while Germany dismissed tions required by EU countries, Ditri said, arguing that whenever Will include eight current regencies of data show. that explanation as “unfounded”. namely to be of high calorific val- coal production was raised dras- Papua province: Nabire, Mimika, ue and contain little sulfur. tically, it would not come back Paniai, Dogiyai, Deiyai, Intan Jaya, Energy and Mineral Resources Indonesian Coal Mining Asso- down easily. She also said she Puncak Jaya and Puncak. Ministry special adviser Irwandy ciation (APBI) executive director A. Rizqi Darsono, who heads feared that higher EU demand Arif expressed doubts that Indone- Hendra Sinadia told The Jakarta the permanent committee of coal could lead to an expansion of Papua Highlands South Papua N sia could meet additional demand Post on Wednesday that the gov- and mineral resources at the In- mining activities in Indonesia. Will cover eight current Will cover four regencies from Europe, arguing that many ernment had given the green light donesian Chamber of Commerce regencies of Papua out of the 29 current and Industry (Kadin), urged lo- province: Jayawijaya, regencies and cities of Lanny Jaya, Central Papua province. They are Mamberamo, Nduga, Merauke, Mappi, Asmat Tolikara, Yahukimo, Yalimo and Boven Digoel. and Pegunungan Bintang. Source: Three bills on the establishment of new provinces JP/Ina Parlina/Hengky Wijaya

2 FFRRIIDDAAYYJJuulnye1,2240, 22022 HEADLINES After chairing G20 Summit, Jokowi should shift focus to Myanmar The upcoming Group his capacity as G20 rotating chair. COMMENTARY who is seeking the suspension of Hlaing has declared Suu Kyi’s of 20 (G20) Summit, Following the G20 Summit, the Myanmar junta from all offi- government in exile, the Nation- which will be held in Kornelius Purba cial ASEAN activities. al Unity Government, its par- Bali in early Novem- Jokowi’s next diplomatic mis- liamentary committee and any ber, has been sapping the energy sion is to assume the chairman- Senior editor at The Jakarta Post I am pretty sure that Prabo- groups or individuals who refuse and attention of President Joko ship of ASEAN, taking over from wo would have not attended the to recognize him as the legitimate “Jokowi” Widodo, especially af- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen may force his way into bring- mate government of Myanmar”. ADMM had Foreign Minister leader “terrorist groups”. Hlaing ter Russian President Vladimir Sen. But before the changing of ing the Myanmar junta lead- Cambodian Defense Minister Retno LP Marsudi informed him is also responsible for the kill- Putin ordered the invasion of the guard, Jokowi should make er to the summit, regardless of of the boycott against the Myan- ing and torture to death of 1,800 Ukraine in February, which has sure Hun Sen does not embarrass the agreement among the nine Tea Banh claimed the presence of mar junta. Was there a problem people, including 130 children, directly impacted the course of ASEAN by inviting Myanmar jun- ASEAN members not to invite the junta representative proved of communication between the and the detention of over 13,000 the gathering. ta leader Min Aung Hlaing to the the junta regime to any regional that ASEAN was unified in finding ministers or was it intentional be- people. ASEAN Summit in October. meeting until it fulfills its prom- solutions to the Myanmar crisis. cause military and defense affairs The daunting challenge facing ise to adhere to the five-point fall, in practice, beyond the civil- President Jokowi, Singaporean Indonesia’s G20 presidency has Next year will be a perfect time consensus. “This is a participation to find ian government’s control? I pre- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, apparently forced Jokowi to tem- for Indonesia to lead ASEAN solutions and this accusation, fer the first possibility. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail porarily set aside the Myanmar in ending the Myanmar conun- Hun Sen has shown his pen- that accusation, we can’t respond Sabri Yakoob, and the new Philip- cause. Jokowi had been seeking drum. The stick alone has proven chant for undermining ASEAN’s to all of them,” he told a news con- Whatever the reason, Indone- pine President Ferdinand “Bong- to marshal ASEAN support to put ineffective to make the Myanmar collective action against the Myan- ference, referring to criticism of sia has humiliated itself in front bong” Marcos Jr should work pressure on the military junta to junta comply with the five-point mar junta. Just one month after the inclusion of Myanmar in the of the international community. closely to find a comprehensive so- end its barbaric acts against civil- consensus, which includes an im- ASEAN leaders boycotted Hlaing’s meeting. lution to the Myanmar crisis. The ians and the infant democracy in mediate cessation of violence, di- attendance of the US-ASEAN spe- The ADMM has sent a message remaining six ASEAN leaders, how- the country. alogue among all parties and ad- cial summit in Washington, DC, Indonesian Defense Minister that Indonesia, as well as ASEAN, ever, tend to support the Myanmar mitting humanitarian assistance last month, Hun Sen allowed the Prabowo Subianto also looked has recognized the military junta junta, especially Hun Sen and Thai To show his leadership, Jokowi from ASEAN. The group will also defense minister of the Myanmar unperturbed by Gen. Mya’s pres- as the legitimate government of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. is taking grand measures, includ- need a carrot, while helping the junta, Gen. Mya Tun Oo, to attend ence at the ADMM forum. In Myanmar. Not only has the jun- ing a visit to Ukraine and Rus- divided opposition unite and sep- the ASEAN Defense Ministerial his speech, Prabowo called on ta shown disrespect for the five- Myanmar will be a serious stum- sia this week in a bid, among oth- arating Gen. Hlaing from other Meeting (ADMM) in Phnom Penh ASEAN to work to defend the in- point consensus, it has intensified bling block for the region’s stabil- er goals, to ensure that all leaders military generals. on June 16. The defense ministers terests of ASEAN amid the rival- its acts of brutality to eliminate ity and integrity because Western of the G20 states attend the Bali of other ASEAN member states ries of major powers. the opposition. countries will capitalize on this gathering and, if possible, to per- During the summit, ASEAN were also present. disunity to criticize and punish suade Putin to ease the blockade leaders normally host a series of There has been no explanation Hlaing imprisoned Aung San ASEAN for its failure to bring de- on Ukraine so that it can export its events, such as the East Asia Sum- Malaysia was quick to respond either from the Defense Ministry Suu Kyi immediately after he top- mocracy back to Myanmar. much-needed wheat to the world. mit, which invites dialogue part- to the participation of the Myan- or the Foreign Ministry as to why pled her government on Feb. 1, ners. This year they include Unit- mar junta’s representative, saying Indonesia simply let the meeting 2021, and charged her with com- After the G20 Summit, Pres- Jokowi’s peace mission to Kyiv ed States President Joe Biden, “this does not mean Malaysia rec- happen with the attendance of a mitting no less than 20 offenses, ident Jokowi should launch a and Moscow received the blessing Chinese President Xi Jinping and ognizes the [junta] as the legiti- Myanmar regime that it does not including corruption and election diplomatic offensive to help end of the Group of Seven (G7) lead- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio recognize. Obviously, it was a slap fraud. If convicted, the 77-year- crimes against humanity and re- ers during their summit in Ger- Kishida. in the face of President Jokowi, old Nobel peace prize laureate store peace and democracy in many, which Jokowi attended in could be sentenced to more than Myanmar. Given his track record, Hun 180 years of in prison. Newjob iPnrfelsastuiorne,mruopuinathsdfoerpBreIctioattaiocknle Core inflation becomes key indicator for rate policy Antara/Galih Pradipta Fadhil Haidar Sulaeman year], and, [as a result], BI will At the same event, BI deputy potential impact of inflation on strengthen policy coordination governor Dody Budi Waluyo said business sustainability, so as to People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Bambang Soesatyo (third The Jakarta Post/Jakarta with the government, [in particu- the latest surveys pointed to an- devise mitigation measures or at right) congratulates Yandri Susanto (left) on his inauguration as As- Bank Indonesia (BI) has said lar] with national and regional in- nual inflation in the range of 4.05 least be more alert to the poten- sembly deputy speaker in Jakarta on Thursday. Yandri replaces Na- that any changes to interest rates flation control teams,” Destry said to 4.10 percent in June. tial negative impact on business tional Mandate Party (PAN) chief Zulkifli Hasan, who was appointed would be based on the core infla- in the meeting. performance,” she said in a writ- trade minister by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo last month. tion indicator. At that rate, June’s reading ten message to The Jakarta Post. Destry also said that the current would be breaching the 4-percent Criminal Code revision The apparent shift in focus pressure from foreign-exchange ceiling of BI’s inflation target range. Real Estate Indonesia (REI) ‘decolonizes’ but preserves from the headline inflation figure rates was “pretty high”, though she chairperson Paulus Totok Lusida, draconian provisions to core inflation was conveyed by estimated that it would subside in “In June, [core inflation] is es- meanwhile, said on June 20 that BI deputy governor Destry Dama- 2023 due to a relatively small cur- timated to increase, but it is still an increase in interest rates was Nur Janti “We previously agreed that de- yanti in a meeting with the House rent account deficit, ample foreign around the middle-point range needed to cool down the soaring liberations on the Criminal Code of Representatives on Monday. currency reserves and strong eco- […]; we still have to take steps to prices of construction material, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta amendment would not be done nomic prospects. maintain public confidence an- which increased 5.62 percent yoy. The government and the House from the outset,” he told The Ja- Destry said the central bank was chored to the existing [inflation] of Representatives are pushing karta Post this week. “very concerned” about inflation Indonesia’s inflation rate target,” Dody said. “There are no good options, ahead with a limited revision of and would continue to monitor amounted to 3.55 percent yoy in there are pitfalls on all sides [...] the Criminal Code (KUHP), call- Arsul did say, however, that the the fluctuations of volatile prices. May, the highest since Decem- Business representatives dif- We can only pick the best among ing it a “historic mission” to de- bill ought to be reviewed before it ber 2017. The national currency fer in their views of the inflation the worst options,” Paulus told colonize outdated laws that the was passed, and that it should be Inflation in many countries has depreciated by 4.14 percent trend. the Post. country inherited from the Dutch carried out by people not involved has been soaring over the past against the US dollar year-to-date colonial era. in the drafting team, which in- year, notably in the United States (ytd) as per June 22. Indonesian Chamber of Com- State-owned Bank Mandiri cluded legal experts, law enforce- and Europe. The increase in con- merce and Industry (Kadin) economists reaffirmed on June 23 But not all activists and legal ment officials and court judges. sumer prices has been more con- “Our policy going forward is to deputy chairperson Shinta Wi- their estimate that the government experts are buying it, pointing out tained in Indonesia, even though continue to strengthen the rupiah djaja Kamdani said on Tuesday would eventually increase the that a number of draconian provi- The bill’s passage has been the rupiah has depreciated signif- exchange-rate stabilization poli- that keeping the interest rate un- 7DRRR by 75 basis points (bps) to sions that could potentially shrink postponed from its initial com- icantly against the US dollar. cy, in accordance with the work- changed was prudent, as increas- a maximum 4.25 percent, as pres- the country’s civic space could re- pletion date in July and is set to ings of market mechanisms and ing it would hurt businesses’ con- sure from increasing global interest main intact or even be expanded. be carried over into the next sit- BI was aiming for core inflation, the fundamentals of the exchange fidence about plans to expand rates was starting to kick in. ting period in mid-August. which is a component of over- rate itself,” Destry continued. production. For many years, lawmakers all inflation, to stay within a tar- “We still see that the timing to and the government have at- Spirit of decolonization? get range of 2 to 4 percent, Destry On June 23, the central bank She appeared willing to toler- hike the 7DRRR will very much tempted, rather ambitiously, Among the more contentious said. That is the same target range governors board meeting decid- ate the increased inflation out- depend on inflation, which is an- to revise the colonial-era penal Indonesia currently has in place ed to hold its benchmark 7-day look, arguing that the price in- ticipated to increase substantially code. Since the last iteration in points in the bill is that the gov- for overall inflation, as measured reverse repo rate (7DRRR) at 3.5 creases were happening due to and fundamentally in the second 2015, the drafting team claims ernment seeks to restore a re- by the consumer-price index. percent, even as it revised up its geopolitical factors that were out- half of 2022,” the bank’s econo- it has prioritized prudence and jected provision that would make inflation forecast for 2022 to the side of Indonesia’s control. mists wrote in a report received transparency, although critics insulting the president and vice “Currently, core inflation range of 4 to 4.2 percent. by the Post. believe this has changed in re- president punishable by impris- stands at 3.6 percent [year-on- “Business actors can start with cent years, marked by rush jobs onment. a preliminary evaluation of the and closed-door deliberations. Similar provisions, namely Govt steps up FMD containment efforts ahead of Idul Adha Critics have repeatedly called articles 134, 136 and 137 of the for a review of problematic ar- Criminal Code, were repealed by Nina A. Loasana Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya demand for livestock normally ticles that they say may threat- the Constitutional Court in 2006 spikes, sparking concerns over a en democracy, such as one that on the grounds that they under- The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Bleak business: Sellers and buyers of sacrificial cattle crowd Jong- possible meat shortage. makes insulting the head of state mined the right to free speech The government is stepping up gol animal market in Bogor, West Java, on Thursday. According to or other state officials illegal and and the principle of equality be- efforts to curb the spread of foot the market, cattle sales have dropped by 80 percent so far this year The restriction on livestock another that requires protests to fore the law. and mouth disease (FMD) ahead from the same period in 2021 as a direct result of an outbreak of movement has reduced sup- have prior government approval. of Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice), foot-and-mouth disease. plies and driven up prices. The The court ruling also explic- which falls on July 10 this year. prices of live cows and buffaloes The draft Criminal Code bill itly prohibits any future attempt economic recovery (PEN) budget, The disease has since spread have shot up 25 percent from (RKUHP) itself is mired in con- to revise the Criminal Code from But as the highly contagious to tackle the FMD outbreak. exponentially across the country, last year’s prices to between troversy, with various civil society including similar articles. But the disease continues to sweep increasing from some 500 cases Rp 70,000 and Rp 75,000 per ki- groups pushing hard for the gov- government has argued that the through herds of livestock across According to the ministry’s to more than 288,000 cases in just logram. The prices of live goats ernment to make it publicly ac- latest provisions still follow the the archipelago, the Religious Af- secretary-general Kasdi Sub- three months, with around 93,000 and sheep have respectively cessible. court order by limiting the filing fairs Ministry has advised Mus- agyono, the funds will be used to recovered cases. Some 1,714 heads increased to Rp 120,000 and of any reports to the police only to lims “not to force themselves to procure and distribute vaccines of livestock have died from the dis- Rp 80,000 per kg. Deputy Law and Human Rights the offended party. perform qurban [ritual sacrifice] and medicines, gather livestock ease, while authorities have culled Minister Edward Hiariej said on in the middle of the FMD out- data, improve biosecurity on almost 3,000 animals. Kasdi has reassured the public Tuesday that the draft bill was Regardless, the move has been break”. farms and compensate farmers that the country has enough live- still in the process of being final- met with broad pushback. for cattle loss. FMD is a highly infectious viral stock supply for qurban. ized and scrubbed, and that it was The government set up last disease that affects hoofed mam- expected to be finished within the “It’s not just a matter of it be- week a task force to handle the The government last week mals, including cattle, goats and “Currently we have 2.27 mil- week. He insisted, however, that ing a complaint or an ordinary of- FMD outbreak. Helmed by Na- promised to pay Rp 10 million per sheep. Animals with the disease lion [heads of ] cattle, buffalos, the bill would only be released fense, but of equality before the tional Disaster Mitigation Agen- head, roughly 50 percent of the av- may develop a fever, followed by goats and sheep, the four most once it had been submitted to the law,” said Muhammad Isnur of cy (BNPB) head Lt. Gen. Suhary- erage market value, as compensa- blisters that form primarily in the common livestock for qurban. House for deliberation. the Foundation of the Indonesian anto, the task force is a joint effort tion for infected cattle that were mouth and on the feet. The dis- We expect the demand for sac- Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI). involving the BNPB, the Office of culled to control the outbreak. ease has a case fatality rate of less rificial animals to be around 1.81 And when the bill is finally up the Coordinating Economic Min- Coordinating Economic Minis- than 1 percent in the country, but million,” the Agriculture Ministry for deliberation, Edward said it A similar provision on in- ister, the agriculture and home ter Airlangga Hartarto said that it can significantly reduce fertil- secretary-general told lawmakers would focus only on a fixed list of sulting government agencies ministries, as well as police and the compensation was primarily ity, growth and milk production overseeing agriculture at a meet- 14 issues as proposed by the gov- could also be reintroduced, even military personnel. intended for small and medium- in cattle. ing on Monday. ernment on May 25, unlike the 24 though the Constitutional Court scale livestock breeders. topics that activists had demand- revoked similar provisions — ar- The government has placed Potential shortage The Indonesian Ulema Coun- ed to be reviewed. ticles 154 and 155 of the Criminal a ban on moving livestock from The country’s first cases of The outbreak emerged just two cil (MUI) recently issued a guide- Code — in 2007. and to highly infected provinces, FMD were reported in April in line for Idul Adha that allows the Arsul Sani, a member of the where at least 50 percent of their Gresik, East Java, after three de- months before Idul Adha when use of livestock exhibiting mild House Commission III oversee- The latest provisions, at least districts reported outbreaks. The cades of being FMD-free. symptoms of FMD, such as mild ing legal affairs, said lawmakers according to the latest draft bill restriction applies to 11 out of the blisters, lameness, decreased ap- could not decide whether or not made available in 2019, stipulate 19 provinces that have reported petite and drooling, as sacrificial they would keep to the 14-point that any insults are punishable cases of FMD to date. animals. list of issues or expand discus- only if they cause a public distur- sions beyond them because they bance — slightly different from Authorities are trying to control However, the council advised had yet to receive the draft bill. an older draft that allows for the the disease by vaccination, pro- against the use of livestock with prosecution of anyone who of- curing some 3 million doses from severe symptoms, such as blis- fends the government. France. Of this amount, around ters that caused hoof loss, limping 800,000 doses have been distrib- or inability to walk and massive uted to the affected regions. weight loss. The Agriculture Ministry is The government previously planning to procure more than said that meat and dairy prod- 43 million total doses to vaccinate ucts contaminated with the FMD over 14 million animals. The min- virus were safe for human con- istry has also proposed a budget sumption. of Rp 4.6 trillion (US$309.3 mil- lion), sourced from the national The disease is extremely rare in humans and only produces mild symptoms if a person contracts it.

HEADLINES 3FRIDAY July 1, 2022 Philippines begins new era of ‘No problem’ for Russia Marcos rule after landslide win if Finland, Sweden join NATO: Putin Late dictator’s son promises economic reforms to heal divisions Agencies of what Moscow calls its “special Karen Lema military operation” in Ukraine and Neil Jerome Morales Ashgabat, Turkmenistan/Moscow remained unchanged, that its Russia has “no problem” if Fin- goal was to “liberate” eastern Reuters/Manila AFP/Ted Aljibe land and Sweden join NATO, Ukraine’s Donbas region and cre- The son and namesake of late President Vladimir Putin said on ate conditions to ensure Russia’s dictator Ferdinand Marcos was Taking the helm: Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) takes the oath as president of the Philippines as his wife Louise Wednesday. security. sworn in as president of the Phil- (right) looks on, during the inauguration ceremony at the National Museum in Manila on Thursday. ippines on Thursday, completing “We don’t have problems with He said Russian troops had ad- a stunning comeback for one of added, “no looking back in anger sations of embezzlement. deliver on pledges to create jobs Sweden and Finland like we do vanced in Ukraine and that the Asia’s most famous political dy- or nostalgia”. Hundreds of activists were ex- and bring down consumer prices with Ukraine,” Putin told a news military intervention was going nasties, 36 years after it was oust- in a country of 110 million people, conference in the Turkmenistan as planned. There was no need, he ed in a popular uprising. The elder Ferdinand Marcos pected to protest against the in- nearly a quarter of whom live on capital of Ashgabat.  said, to set a deadline for an end to ruled the Philippines from 1965 auguration of Marcos Jr, angered less than US$2 per day. the campaign. Marcos Jr scored a rare land- for two decades, almost half of it by a campaign buoyed by a pow- “We don’t have territorial dif- slide victory in last month’s elec- under martial law, helping him to erful network of supporters and In a stirring 30-minute speech, ferences,” the Russian leader Sweden and Finland have both tion, helped by what his critics extend his grip on power until his social media influencers deter- Marcos Jr pledged education re- continued.  decided to apply to join NATO see as a decades-long effort to al- overthrow and his family’s retreat mined to debunk historical narra- forms, to improve food sufficien- after Russia launched its mili- ter public perceptions of a family into exile during a 1986 “people tives of the Marcos era. cy, infrastructure, waste manage- “There is nothing that could tary operation in pro-Western that lived lavishly at the helm of power” revolution. ment and energy supply and to bother us about Sweden and Fin- Ukraine on Feb. 24. one of the world’s most notorious The former senator and con- give full support for millions of land joining NATO. If Finland kleptocracies. Thousands of Marcos oppo- gressman campaigned on the slo- overseas Filipino workers. and Sweden wish to, they can join. The formal process for mem- nents were jailed, killed or disap- gan “together, we shall rise again”, That’s up to them. They can join bership was launched at the In a speech that echoed his peared during his rule, and the invoking nostalgia for his father’s “I fully understand the grav- whatever they want.” NATO summit in Madrid on campaign slogans of unity, Marcos family name became synonymous rule, which his family and sup- ity of the responsibility you put Wednesday. Jr, better known as “Bongbong”, with cronyism, extravagance and porters have portrayed as a gold- on my shoulders. I do not take “[However], if military contin- vowed to take the country far on the disappearance of billions of en age for the Philippines, a for- it lightly but I am ready for the gents and military infrastructure Until now, Russia had always his watch with policies benefiting dollars from state coffers. The mer United States colony. task,” he said. were deployed there, we would be been critical of the prospect of everyone and thanked the public Marcos family has rejected accu- obliged to respond symmetrical- the two Nordic countries joining for delivering what he called “the Voters are counting on him to “I will get it done.” ly and raise the same threats for the alliance, saying it would be a biggest electoral mandate in the those territories where threats “destabilizing factor” for interna- history of Philippine democracy”. have arisen for us,” Putin said as tional security.  quoted by AFP. “You will not be disappoint- Putin nevertheless condemned ed, so do not be afraid,” he said at He said it was inevitable that NATO’s “imperial ambitions”, ac- his inauguration ceremony, sur- Moscow’s relations with Helsinki cusing the alliance of seeking to rounded by his immediate fam- and Stockholm would sour over assert its “supremacy” through ily and with his sister Imee, a their NATO membership. the Ukraine conflict. senator, and 92-year-old mother Imelda, a former four-time con- “Everything was fine between “Ukraine and the well-being of gresswoman, seated close by. us, but now there might be some Ukrainian people is not the aim of tensions, there certainly will,” he the collective West and NATO but Marcos Jr, 64, also praised his said, according to Reuters. a means to defend their own in- late father’s rule, but said his pres- terests,” Putin said.  idency was not about the past, but “It’s inevitable if there is a a better future. threat to us.” “The NATO countries’ leaders wish to [...] assert their suprem- “I once knew a man who saw Putin made his comment a day acy, their imperial ambitions,” what little had been achieved after NATO member Turkey lift- he added.  since independence [...] but he got ed its veto over the bid by Finland it done sometimes with the need- and Sweden to join the alliance The Atlantic alliance and ed support, sometimes without,” after the three nations agreed to “above all the United States have he said. protect each other’s security. long needed an external enemy around which they can unite their “So will it be with his son. You The move means Helsinki and allies,” the Russian leader said.  will get no excuses from me,” he Stockholm can proceed with their application to join NATO, mark- “Iran wasn’t good for that. ing the biggest shift in European We’ve given them this opportu- security in decades. nity [...] to gather the whole world around them.”  Putin added that the objectives Russia starts shipping grain from occupied Ukraine port Agencies Berdyansk is a port city on the ports, particularly in Africa. responsible for paying state AFP/Yuri Kadobnov northern coast of the Sea of Azov, Russia insists that it will let pensions. Moscow in the region of Zaporizhzhia in On guard: A Russian serviceman patrols on the promenade Russia began shipping grain from southeastern Ukraine. Ukraine ship its grain if Kyiv forc- Putin has said Russian forces in Berdyansk on June 14, amid the ongoing Russian military action territory it occupies in Ukraine es demine sea lanes. will not occupy Ukraine.  in Ukraine. on Thursday, with a vessel car- The southern Ukrainian re- rying 7,000 tons of cereal sailing gions of Kherson and Zapori- Kyiv fears Russia will launch The Kremlin claims local resi- tilizers was confirmed, despite exacerbated a global food crisis, from the port of Berdyansk. zhzhia have been largely under an attack on Ukraine’s Black dents will choose their own fu- the fact that their implementa- sending prices soaring for grain, Russia’s control since the first Sea coast. ture, suggesting they are in favor tion is significantly complicated cooking oils, fuel and fertilizer. Kyiv has for weeks accused weeks of Moscow’s military in- of a referendum on the status of by illegal unilateral sanctions by Russia and its allies of stealing tervention and are now being Talks involving Turkey and the Ukraine’s occupied territory. Western states and the disrup- Russia and Ukraine account its grain from southern Ukraine, forcibly integrated into Russia’s United Nations have brought no tion of global production and sup- for nearly a third of global wheat contributing to a global food economy. results so far. Food crisis ply chains due to the coronavirus supplies, while Russia is also a shortage caused by grain exports Russia said on Wednesday pandemic.” key global fertilizer exporter and blocked in Ukrainian ports. ‘Goodwill gesture’ On Thursday, Russia said it had Ukraine is a major exporter of The pro-Moscow officials in pulled its forces from Ukraine’s that it was ready to work with Russia’s war in Ukraine has corn and sunflower oil. Until now shipments have Snake Island, calling it a “good- the UN to combat the risks of a been transported by land, the two Ukrainian regions claim will gesture” to allow Kyiv to ex- global food crisis, and was willing Kyiv says. that they have “nationalized” port agricultural products.  to meet its obligations to export state infrastructure and property food and fertilizers. Thursday’s grain shipment there and are buying their crops Russia, the largest wheat ex- from the port of Berdyansk marks from local farmers. porter in the world, has said it is The commitments were made the opening of a sea route to ex- facing difficulties in exporting its in a conversation between Rus- port wheat from Ukraine to third A representative of the pro- own grain due to unprecedented sian Foreign Minister Sergei Lav- countries. Moscow authorities, Vladimir Western sanctions over its inter- rov and UN Secretary-General Rogov, told state news agency vention in Ukraine. António Guterres, Lavrov’s min- “After numerous months of RIA Novosti that 1.5 million tons istry said in a statement. delay, the first merchant ship has of grain could be exported via Pro-Moscow officials in the re- left the Berdyansk commercial Berdyansk. gions of Kherson and Zaporizh- However, the statement port; 7,000 tons of grain are head- zhia are hoping that the occupied stopped short of announcing ing toward friendly countries,” Moscow’s military interven- territories could stage a referen- any new concrete steps and re- Evgeny Balitsky, the head of the tion in Ukraine, a country known dum and join Russia in the near peated earlier Russian charges pro-Russia administration, said as Europe’s breadbasket, has future. that Ukrainian actions and West- on Telegram, AFP reported. pushed up food prices and led to ern sanctions were to blame for shortages, as Russia’s blockade On Wednesday, pro-Russian the crisis. Russia’s Black Sea ships “are of Black Sea ports prevents mil- authorities said they were launch- ensuring the security” of the lions of tons of grain from being ing bus and train services be- “It was emphasized that the journey, he said, adding that shipped out. tween Moscow-annexed Crimea export of Ukrainian grain is hin- the Ukrainian port had been and the regions of Kherson and dered by the mining of the Black demined. The crisis has sparked fears of Zaporizhzhia. Sea by Kyiv,” it said. famine in vulnerable countries Balitsky did not specify the fi- highly reliant on Ukrainian ex- The pro-Moscow adminis- “In addition, Russia’s readi- nal destination of the cargo. tration of the Kherson region ness to continue fulfilling its ob- also announced the opening of a ligations to export food and fer- branch of Russian Pension Fund Thousands march in India to demand protection after Hindu tailor killed Reuters AFP/Sajjad Hussain lal Thoda, a city administrator in circulation of the video. Udaipur. “The mood is tense and almost New Delhi/Mumbai, India Eerily quiet: Police personnel stand guard along a deserted street on Wednesday during a curfew Thousands of people marched imposed by authorities following the death of Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal, who was allegedly killed According to Thoda, the tailor all shops are closed today,” Tho- through the Indian city of Udai- by two Muslim men for supporting a former spokeswoman of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had been detained over a social da said. The city of around half a pur on Thursday, many holding party for her remarks about the Prophet Muhammad, in Udaipur, India. media post in support of the BJP million people is one of the major Hindu saffron flags and placards spokeswoman that was traced to tourist draws in the desert state demanding protection for Hin- lim men brandished a meat cleav- gered domestic and international Shah said. his mobile telephone, and that af- and is known for its luxurious ho- dus after two Muslim men filmed er while claiming responsibility outrage. Late on Wednesday, a spokes- ter being released, Teli had told tels, including the well-known Taj themselves slaying a Hindu tailor for slaughtering the tailor, Kan- police on June 15 that he was be- Lake Palace. in the city earlier this week. haiyalal Teli, saying he had insult- India’s Home Minister Amit person from Pakistan’s foreign ing threatened by some group. ed the Prophet Muhammad. Shah said in a tweet that federal ministry rejected reports in In another video clip posted Police had barred public gath- police had taken over the investi- some Indian media that linked “Terrorists executed my fa- online, one of the assailants also erings in the northwestern state They also alluded to Nupur gation into “the brutal murder” of the suspects to a Pakistan-based ther in the most shocking way, the went on to threaten Prime Min- of Rajasthan out of fear that it Sharma, a former spokeswom- Kanhaiya Lal Teli, giving the vic- organization. country must stand with our fam- ister Narendra Modi, saying their could lead to more communal vi- an for the ruling Hindu nation- tim’s full name. ily to demand justice,” the vic- blade would find him too. olence. But authorities in Udai- alist Bharatiya Janata Party The two assailants had slashed tim’s son, Yash, told Reuters after pur, a city of around half a million (BJP), whose remarks about the “The involvement of any orga- Teli’s head and throat in an attack his father’s body was cremated on The federal government late people in the southern part of the Prophet earlier this month trig- nization and international links while the tailor was taking mea- Wednesday. on Wednesday asked social media state, decided to let a short march will be thoroughly investigated,” surements, according to Bhawar- platforms to immediately remove take place. He said the culprits should be content that encouraged, glori- tried and sentenced to death and fied or justified the killing. Senior Rajasthan Police official denied that his father had made Dinesh MN told reporters that any remarks that would be offen- The Electronics and Informa- around 7,000 people joined the sive to other religions. tion Technology Ministry said in march and that it passed off peace- a notice that the removal was nec- fully. There have been protests Politicians and prominent Is- essary “to prevent any incitement elsewhere in India over Tuesday’s lamic preachers condemned the and disruption of public order shocking killing and they have also killing. and to restore public peace and passed without any major incident. harmony”. “The incident has shocked fol- Federal police have interro- lowers of Islam. The heinous act Modi’s pursuit of a “Hindu gated the suspected killers, who committed by two men is abso- first” agenda since coming to posted two videos online, one lutely un-Islamic,” said Maulana power in 2014 has stoked com- showing assailants slashing the Ahmed Siddiqui, a Muslim cleric munal tensions in India, a coun- tailor around the head and neck based in Udaipur. try with a ghastly history of Hin- as he bent to take measurements du-Muslim violence. And many in his shop. Threat to Modi Muslims, who make up 13 percent Authorities said they had sus- of the population, complain of In the second video, two Mus- feeling more marginalized due to pended internet services in sev- Modi’s policies. eral parts of Rajasthan to prevent

4 FRIDAY July 1, 2022 BUSINESS Firms cut spending, jobs as confidence wanes Manufacturing growth slows worldwide as curbs, war disrupt supply chains Medha Singh tage by fears of an inflation-fight- AFP/Getty Images/Justin Sullivan oncology business and non-on- Tuesday shelved plans to sell its ing Fed-induced recession. Those cology businesses. United Kingdom high street phar- Reuters concerns have been front and Sitting pretty: Brand new Tesla cars sit in a parking lot at a Tesla show- macy chain, blaming global fi- Executives at electric carmarker center for most of the year.” room in Corte Madera, California, the United States, on Monday. More companies are also in- nancial market conditions which Tesla, drugmaker Novartis and creasingly finding it difficult to meant potential buyers were strug- retailer Bed Bath and Beyond are ‘Acute shift’ Arizona factory citing “unprec- 200 workers. Musk has said the pass rising costs for raw materials gling to borrow enough money. cutting spending or jobs while oth- US home goods retailer Bed, edented” economic conditions, a company needs to cut staff by and labor to customers as infla- ers are shelving projects or deals plan that was unveiled only three about 10 percent. tion stubbornly sticks to the high- “M&A events tend to get done as inflation rages and confidence Bath and Beyond Inc said on months ago. est level in decades. in stable or rising markets, so in the world economy wanes. Wednesday its first-quarter sales Swiss drugmaker Novartis volatility like what we have been tumbled 25 percent. Tesla, whose chief executive of- said on Tuesday a previously an- “For the majority of companies, experiencing so far this year can Manufacturing growth is slow- ficer Elon Musk previously said nounced restructuring program they have to swallow a lot of these negatively affect those activities,” ing worldwide as China’s COV- “In the quarter there was an he had a “super bad” feeling about could lead to 8,000 jobs being cut, price rises themselves, and that said Morningstar analyst Julie ID-19 curbs and Russia’s invasion acute shift in customer sentiment, the economy, has shuttered a Cal- or about 7.4 percent of its global means cutting back elsewhere,” Utterback. of Ukraine disrupt supply chains and since then, pressures have ma- ifornia office and laid off about workforce, as it streamlines its said Stuart Cole, head macro econ- and keep inflation at the highest terially escalated,” Sue Gove, the omist at Equiti Capital. Shares in Europe’s largest on- in years, while the growing risk of company’s interim chief executive line meal ordering company Just a United States recession poses a officer said in a statement. In contrast, the CEO of Cheer- Eat Takeaway.com hit an all-time new threat to the global economy. ios maker General Mills on low on Wednesday amid dual “This includes steep inflation Wednesday told investors higher doubts the loss-making compa- More companies are now taking and fluctuations in purchasing prices had prompted more con- ny would successfully sell its US early action to help them weather patterns.” sumers to forego restaurants and Grubhub operation and whether it any downturn, a preview that more eat at home. would be able to reach profitability drastic cuts may loom when earn- In response, the retailer said without additional funding. ings reports pour in next month. it was cutting capital expendi- “As consumers become more tures by about 25 percent and had concerned about the economic The sell-off followed a note “The overarching concern that put on hold plans to remodel and reality, the first thing they tend to by Berenberg analysts initiating corporations have right now is build new stores. do is eat more at home,” chief ex- coverage with a “sell” rating. The how much will the economy slow ecutive Jeff Harmening said. analysts questioned whether the down, and can we avoid a reces- Others are shelving expansion company would be able to dispose sion,” said Art Hogan, chief mar- plans or cutting jobs. Deals on ice of Grubhub for anything resem- ket strategist at National Securi- Market uncertainty has also bling the $5.8 billion it paid for it ties in New York. South Korean battery maker in an all-shares acquisition that LG Energy Solution Ltd, a ma- left a growing number of deals on closed in June 2021. “Markets have been held hos- jor supplier to US carmakers in- hold. cluding Tesla Inc, is reassessing a US$1.3 billion investment in an Walgreens Boots Alliance on UK’s balance Logjam British of payments gap Airways hits record owner to buy 14 Airbus jets William Schomberg 2016 that the UK was reliant on AFP/ANP/Vincent Jannink the “kindness of strangers” to fi- Agence France-Presse Reuters/London nance its current account deficit. Farmers gather with their vehicles near the Germany-Netherlands border on the A1 highway, near Rijssen, The United Kingdom racked up the Netherlands, on Wednesday, to protest the Dutch government's nitrogen plans. London a record shortfall in its current The statistics office said the British Airways parent IAG said account in early 2022, in part primary account swung back into Ferrari to churn out gas guzzlers on Thursday that it had ordered due to the soaring cost of its the red after a rare surplus in the on its slow road to electric 11 Airbus A320neo aircraft and fuel imports, according to data last three months of 2021 as in- three A321neos worth US$1.7 bil- that officials cautioned could be vestment-related flows, including Giulio Piovaccari theoretically improve battery Rimac’s Nevera, for instance, lion, as the aviation sector seeks revised. dividends, out of the country out- and Nick Carey power, as well as hydrogen fuel weighs 2,200 kilograms, more to recover from the pandemic. weighed income from British as- cells and synthetic fuels, both of than fossil-fuel sports cars and The balance of payments defi- sets abroad. Reuters/Maranello, Italy which face an uncertain future. heavier even than Ford Transit The airline conglomerate, which cit — a measure of how much the Ferrari makes some of the fastest and Mercedes Sprinter vans. also owns Aer Lingus and Iberia, country relies on money from Stripping out the effect of trade cars on the road, but the luxury European Union countries has converted options to buy the abroad — ballooned to 51.7 bil- in precious metals — which the Italian automaker is taking the agreed this week to an effective ban That enormous weight “in turn fuel-efficient single-aisle jets af- lion pounds (US$62.8 billion) or office views as a distortion due to slow lane to an electric future as on new fossil-fuel car sales, but will affects performance, driving dy- ter negotiating a “substantial” dis- 8.3 percent of GDP in the Janu- London’s role as a gold-trading it tries to overcome the technolo- assess in 2026 whether hybrid vehi- namics and experience”, said count, it said in a statement. ary-March period. hub — the current account deficit gy’s disadvantages against today’s cles and synthetic, or CO2-neutral, Dario Duse, managing director at matched a previous record from powerful fossil fuel engines. fuels could comply with that goal. consultancy firm AlixPartners. The planes, due for delivery in Data from the Office for Na- the last three months of 2015 at 2024 and 2025, will replace older tional Statistics also showed the 7.1 percent of GDP. At an investor day this month, “In every case where you have a Ferrari is not alone in facing A320ceo aircraft in IAG’s short- increasing strain on households executives promised a new era, technology transition, by definition these challenges, and few ultra-lux- haul fleet. as their real disposable incomes Inflation squeeze with the first fully electric Ferrari you have a situation that is a little ury rivals are rushing to go electric. shrank for the longest period on The statistics office also said a in 2025. bit fuzzy, there is some fog,” Ferrari This is in addition to the conver- record. CEO Benedetto Vigna, a technol- Lamborghini, for instance, sion of eight options in March for measure of households’ dispos- But for now, combustion en- ogy industry veteran who took over does not plan a fully electric car six A320neos and two A321neos. The statistics office said the able income fell in real terms for gines remain the noisy heart of in September, told Reuters. until the end of the decade. current account figures were sub- the fourth quarter in a row, the what it does. Unlike some rivals, “These modern, more fuel-effi- ject to more uncertainty than longest such run on record, un- Ferrari has not provided a road Jefferies analyst Philippe But, according to AlixPartners’ cient aircraft will bring both cost usual due to the impact of post- derscoring the scale of the infla- map for going all electric. Volk- Houchois described Ferrari’s ap- Duse, Ferrari must weigh its op- efficiencies and environmental Brexit changes in how data is col- tion hit to consumers. swagen’s Bentley brand and Volvo proach as “measured”, but added tions more carefully than Lam- benefits to IAG airlines,” the com- lected for goods imports and for- are both targeting 2030. that it might not be popular with borghini, which has a deep-pock- pany added in the statement. eign direct investment, which are Bank of England governor An- investors as some automakers eted owner in world number two being investigated. drew Bailey said on Wednesday According to a source famil- charged toward an electric future. carmaker Volkswagen (VW). The firm will announce engine it was “very clear” that the UK’s iar with Ferrari’s business plans, selection and financing options Economists polled by Reuters economy was at a turning point a new production line focused “They can run their profit cen- “For Ferrari, which unlike Lam- nearer to the delivery time. had expected a deficit of just un- and was starting to slow. on electric vehicles (EVs) should ter with combustion engines lon- borghini does not have access to der 40 billion pounds. help lift annual production at its ger and amortize their investment a development platform like that Thursday’s news is a boost to Many economists expect the plant in Maranello, Italy, by more there,” he said. of VW, the issue of investments is Airbus after IAG last month or- The shortfall was the biggest in economy to shrink in the April- than 35 percent to over 15,000 also certainly relevant,” Duse said. dered 50 fuel-efficient 737 MAX records going back to 1955. June period due to inflation at a cars by 2025 versus 11,155 in “But it’s not necessarily what the jets worth $6.25 billion from the 40-year high of 9.1 percent, an ex- 2021 — or 65 cars per day versus market wants to hear because the Hydrogen to the rescue? European plane maker’s fierce US Samuel Tombs, an economist tra bank holiday and the end of 46 currently — delivering higher mindset is let’s rush into EVs and Among its options, Ferrari is rival Boeing. with Pantheon Macroeconomics, mass COVID-19 testing and vac- profit margins in the process. never look back.” said oil and gas prices had risen cination programs. But the econ- researching hydrogen fuel cells, The Boeing deal was a vote of further since early 2022 and the omy is mostly expected to return Ferrari declined to comment. An electric marriage? a future zero-emissions solution confidence in the crisis-hit MAX UK’s current account gap would to growth, albeit weakly, in the The carmaker has told inves- Every 22 minutes on the V8 as- touted by Japan’s carmakers and jet after two deadly crashes in come under further strain as third quarter. tors it is targeting a core profit the likes of BMW in Europe that 2018 and 2019. tourism resumed, which would (EBITDA) margin of 38 to 40 per- sembly line at Maranello a finished can match the sustained power of cause money to flow out of the The UK’s economy grew 0.8 cent in 2026, versus 35.9 percent engine and chassis come together, combustion engines. The raft of orders come amid country. percent in the first three months in 2021. which Ferrari calls a “marriage”. signs of recovery in the aviation of 2022, the same pace as previ- Its lineup could also grow to at British start-up Viritech is al- sector, which was ravaged by the “With the current account def- ously thought, the statistics office least 17 models by 2026 from 12 to- For an undisclosed sum, the ready building a hydrogen hyper- COVID-19 pandemic. icit set to remain large over com- said. GDP was 0.7 percent larger day. But most new models will, at engine with a V12 model includes car, with input from Italian auto ing quarters, sterling will remain than in the fourth quarter of 2019, least initially, have a combustion a plate bearing the name of the design house Pininfarina, a limit- British low-cost carrier Easy- very sensitive to global trends in the last full quarter before the engine — including its first SUV, the worker who made it. ed-edition vehicle weighing 1,000 Jet this month exercised options risk appetite,” Tombs said. COVID-19 pandemic. Purosangue, powered by its trade- kg that it aims to use to sell the to buy 56 A320neo aircraft worth mark huge 12-cylinder engine — Ferrari executives highlight the technology to carmakers. $6.5 billion and due for delivery Sterling is on course for its big- Households did not dip further though some may be hybrids. emotion some drivers feel when between 2026 and 2029. gest six-month drop against the into their lockdown savings to fi- Ferrari currently has four plug- they buy one of their cars, that start CEO Timothy Lyons says over US dollar since 2016, the year of nance their spending. The saving in hybrids in its lineup. atover200,000euros(US$212,000). the last 18 months Viritech has seen IAG in May forecast a return the Brexit referendum, but was ratio held at 6.8 percent of dispos- A zero-emissions future poses a “huge spike in interest” from con- to annual profit after narrowing little changed after Thursday’s able income, still above its level of the same challenges for Ferrari “I see customers coming to ventional carmakers in the concept. COVID-induced losses as travel figures. 6 percent immediately before the as it does for rivals — EV batter- take their cars and some of them restrictions were eased. pandemic. ies weigh hundreds of kilograms, are crying,” Vigna told Reuters. But hydrogen fuel cell cars Mark Carney, a former Bank which affects aerodynamics and need infrastructure for producing The group had collapsed into of England governor, warned in handling, and cannot match the So it is crucial for Ferrari to “green” hydrogen using renew- losses during 2020 and 2021 as sustained power and throaty roar create a similarly passionate re- able energy and fueling stations, the pandemic grounded planes Sowing season of a massive combustion engine. sponse to its EVs. which are unlikely to be in place and slammed demand. To solve those expensive chal- until the 2030s. AFP/Prakash Mathema lenges, Ferrari is researching sol- Hybrid sports cars have been a Nevertheless, airlines and air- id state batteries, which could success, pairing powerful engines Vigna said Ferrari was also ports are currently struggling to Farmers plant rice seedlings on National Paddy Day, which marks the with the instant acceleration of working with four partners in Eu- recruit sufficient staff as skies re- start of Nepal’s annual rice planting season, in Tokha village on the an electric motor. rope and Asia on battery compo- open after the lifting of pandemic outskirts of Kathmandu on Wednesday. nents to research the next gener- lockdowns, which saw the indus- But fully-electric sports cars ation of high energy density solid try slash thousands of jobs. currently have a weight prob- state batteries, which are lighter lem because of the huge batteries than today’s cells. Against this backdrop, Brit- needed to provide enough power. ish Airways workers at London’s Heathrow airport voted last week Croatian hypercar maker to strike over pay, as surging infla- tion erodes wages and sparks in- dustrial unrest. The staff in customer-facing roles like check-in voted by more than 90 percent in favor, trade unions said, threatening a “sum- mer of strikes” as the United Kingdom’s cost-of-living crisis worsens. Airbus’ tripled net profit In May, European aircraft gi- ant Airbus said that net prof- it more than tripled in the first quarter to 1.2 billion euros ($1.25 billion), despite the impact of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The company also indicated its optimism for the future, say- ing it aimed to produce 75 of its A320 aircraft each month by 2025, up from 45 per month at the end of 2021. The first-quarter results re- flected “a solid performance across our commercial aircraft, helicopter and defense business- es”, said a company statement.

BUSINESS 5FRIDAY July 1, 2022 wpJaoiptwhaenrrefclcraoumrndechsheoaauvtte, brtuetd Reuters critical condition. AFP/Dale de la Rey Temperatures this month have Tokyo Must-have selfies: People visit a public pier next to Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday, ahead of the 25th anniversary of Japan’s electricity grid creaked on been the highest since record- the city's handover from the United Kingdom to China, which falls on July 1. Thursday under the strain of To- keeping began in 1875. kyo’s hottest June since records HreobnugilKdoitnsgimchaiegfe:mBuusstinoepsesnleuapdceirtsy, began, but a power crunch that The temperature in central could have deprived tens of mil- Tokyo was 36.4 degrees at 1 p.m. Residents leaving city for good withdrew total of HK$9.01b in 2021 lions of electricity was narrowly while the town of Hatoyama, averted and authorities prepared north of the capital, sweltered at Farah Master he added. ing with anti-government pro- that then we can be competitive to to lift warnings. 39.7 degrees. and Scott Murdoch “We are almost the last place in tests in 2019. Singapore, Dubai, but it will take time because this time around we Temperatures of nearly 40 Turning off the lights Reuters/Hong Kong, China the world that still requires travel- In a sign of the city’s growing have put a halt to Hong Kong.” degrees Celsius were marked Some firms, such as auto-parts Business executives in Hong ers to quarantine upon arrival, and remoteness from the rest of the in some parts of greater Tokyo, Kong have a wish list for its new this must change as soon as possi- region, Citigroup chief executive Some executives are still op- home to 37 million people, on the maker Yorozu Corp, are scal- leader: scrap COVID-19 quaran- ble. The next step is a major PR ex- Jane Fraser and JPMorgan’s Ja- timistic on the outlook for Hong sixth day of a heat wave that be- ing back shifts to save power tine rules and promote the rule of ercise to get people to come.” mie Dimon have both visited Sin- Kong as a finance hub, and they gan after the earliest end to the while others, like retailer Seven law and transparent regulations gapore in the past two months, believe it will remain the spring- capital’s rainy season in decades. & i Holdings and tech giant Sony, to revive foreign investor confi- Hong Kong’s once-buzzing trips that would normally include board for accessing mainland have asked employees to save dence — before the territory be- nightlife scene has sputtered, Hong Kong, to visit key banking China. Maximum highs are not fore- power by turning off lights and comes a hardship posting. with many popular bars empty on clients and senior staff. cast to drop to 30 degrees before other devices. what would typically be packed Emphasizing Hong Kong’s rule Tuesday. Former security chief John weekends. The city saw a net out- ‘Halt to Hong Kong’ of law and transparent regulatory Automaker Nissan Motor said Lee, who becomes chief execu- flow of more than 134,000 people Lee is faced with managing the system is critical for drawing back But power outages were avert- it was operating generators at its tive of the former British colony in the first half of this year, com- talent, said Kher Sheng Lee, the ed, despite the loss of output from Tochigi plant north of Tokyo from on Friday, needs to reboot the pared with just 1,813 in the same needs of the international com- Asia Pacific co-head of the Alter- a 600-megawatt (MW) plant Wednesday to Friday, while call- once-teeming global financial period of 2021. munity and the local communi- native Investment Management even as generators feeding To- ing on offices and factories to save hub, eight business leaders said, ty, whose priority is to open up Association. kyo worked up to carry their load energy. because its border has effective- Data shows residents leaving with mainland China, said gov- with only about 3 percent reserve ly been sealed since 2020 and the city for good withdrew a total ernment adviser Bernard Chan, a “The new administration must capacity, the level below which SoftBank Corp said it was eas- international arrivals subject to of HK$9.01 billion (US$1.14 bil- convener for the city’s Executive focus on what are the key factors blackouts can occur. ing up on air-conditioning, letting stringent quarantine and testing lion) in 2021, up 52 percent from Council and a deputy to China’s that drive Hong Kong’s competi- the temperature in its facilities protocols. the previous year. For the first National People’s Congress. tive advantages against the rising Authorities said they would lift rise to 26 degrees from 25 degrees. quarter, withdrawals from MPF tide of competition at a time when a warning of short power supplies These measures, including one accounts — government-mandat- “[The government] cannot just people are leaving,” Lee said. that had been in effect for four The government and utilities week of mandatory hotel quar- ed savings, which departing resi- forego China for the internation- straight days. had been preparing since spring antine and stool testing of babies dents can cash out on — amount- al market. I think if we send that A timetable for opening to the to deal with tight power supplies for coronavirus, have hammered ed to HK$2.01 billion, up from message, the local community rest of the world and a new mar- “Thanks to everybody’s efforts, during the period of peak summer Hong Kong’s competitiveness, HK$1.93 billion a year earlier, the will be upset. Managing both is keting team to revitalize Hong we were able to curb demand to demand, but that only officially the executives said. latest data shows. actually very challenging for the Kong’s image are crucial, said a certain extent,” said the Econo- begins on July 1. next administration,” he added. Stewart Aldcroft, a funds man- my, Trade and Industry Ministry. “Hong Kong, once one of the Hong Kong has tried to emu- agement consultant who has been The power squeeze has been most sought-after postings for ex- late China’s “dynamic zero CO- While many Asia Pacific-head- in Hong Kong for 37 years. In the morning, before the 600- expected with the suspension of ecutives, has become a hardship VID” approach. But unlike in the quartered businesses have left, MW plant was pulled from service, generating by some power plants posting due to the lack of inter- mainland, Hong Kong’s territory, those whose business largely re- Lee must start by stanching national grid monitor OCCTO after March earthquakes in the national connectivity,” said Stu- home to more than 7 million peo- late to China would still prefer the outflow of talent, said Sally had forecast the Tokyo area’s criti- Fukushima area, a long-term drop art Bailey, chairman of the Hong ple, remains highly reliant on in- Hong Kong, Chan said. However, Wong, chief executive of at the cal period of 3 percent margin for in the number of thermal-power Kong Exhibition & Convention ternational travel and business. the city needs to improve its liv- Hong Kong Investment Funds 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The lost plant plants amid a push for decarbon- Industry Association, which has ability to lure back talent. Association. was not expected to resume gener- ization and delays to the restart of been battered by the restrictions. Talent, corporations and con- ating until the evening. nuclear reactors because of strict- ventions have left in droves for “It’s not just about doing busi- “The longer we delay opening er regulation following the Fuku- “The first step is to resume places such as Singapore and ness, its where you put your fam- up, the more we are turning away The industry ministry had is- shima disaster in 2011. quarantine-free travel to the city,” Dubai, fed up with more than ily, education, school,” he said. talent,” Wong said. sued a power shortage warning for three years of turbulence, start- a fourth day in areas around the To deal with the squeeze, the “If we continue to improve on “Effectively, we are chipping city, urging households and busi- government and utilities have away our competitiveness.” nesses to save electricity, without rebooted ageing gas-fired power stinting on air conditioning where plants and juggled maintenance doing so would endanger health. schedules at nuclear reactors. Some 105 people were taken Japan’s biggest power generator, to hospital with heatstroke on JERA, planned to restart a 45-year- Thursday, the Tokyo Fire Depart- old gas-fired unit in Anegasaki, ment said. A man in his 50s died near Tokyo, on Thursday, followed and a woman in her 50s was in by a 44-year-old unit at Chita in central Japan on Friday. Positive results Courtesy of Allianz Asian shares suffer painful quarter, dollar in rude health Allianz Life Indonesia country manager and president director David Nolan (center) gestures as director and chief financial officer Edwin Prayitno (left) and business director Bianto Surodjo look on during a press conference on the company’s 2021 and first quarter of 2022 fi- nancial reports in Jakarta on Wednesday. The insurer recorded a posi- tive performance in 2021, collecting a total of Rp 19 trillion (US$1.27 billion) in gross written premiums, or an increase of 12.3 percent from the previous year. Services, manufacturing Wayne Cole their recent peak at 3.498 per- rebound in China cent, though that is still up 77 ba- Reuters/Sydney, Australia sis points (bps) for the quarter. Agence France-Presse nior China economist at Capital Asian shares were ending a AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi Economics. rough quarter in a somber mood The yield curve has continued Beijing on Thursday amid fears central Slow day: A man walks in front of an electronic share price board to flatten and turned negative in China’s factory and services ac- The manufacturing PMI rose banks’ cure for inflation would showing the numbers on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on the three- to seven-year range, tivity picked up in June, official to 50.2 points in June — similar end up sickening the global econ- Thursday. Japan's Nikkei fell 1.4 percent, though the drop this quar- while futures are almost fully data showed on Thursday, fueled to analyst expectations — up from omy, though it is proving to be a ter has been a relatively modest 5 percent thanks to a weak yen and priced for another Federal Re- by the easing of COVID-19 re- 49.6 in May. fillip for the safe-haven dollar and the Bank of Japan's dogged commitment to super-easy policies. serve hike of 75 bps in July. strictions in major cities such as government bonds. Shanghai and Beijing. As work resumed after COV- eased another 0.5 percent, bring- major rebound in China in com- The Fed’s hawkishness has ID-19 lockdowns, production and As policymakers reiterated ing its losses for the quarter to 10 ing months and felt that, with so combined with an investor desire The non-manufacturing Pur- demand in the sector picked up their commitment to control- percent. much bad news priced into world for liquidity in difficult times and chasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a and delivery times improved, ac- ling inflation no matter what pain markets, positioning argued for a gifted the US dollar its best quar- key gauge of activity in the world’s cording to the NBS. it caused, data on United States Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.4 percent, bounce. ter since late 2016. The dollar in- second-biggest economy, defied core prices later in the session though the drop this quarter has dex was trading up at 105.10, just expectations and surged to 54.7 China is the only major econ- should only underline the extent been a relatively modest 5 per- “It is not that we think that the a whisker from its recent two-de- points in June after three months omy still pursuing a zero-COV- of the challenge. cent thanks to a weak yen and the world and economies are in great cade peak of 105.79. of sluggish performance. ID approach of eliminating out- Bank of Japan’s dogged commit- shape, but just that an average breaks as they emerge, using snap “Inflation can be sticky,” warned ment to super-easy policies. investor expects an economic di- The euro was struggling at It was the first time since Feb- lockdowns and mass testing. analysts at ANZ. saster, and if that does not mate- US$1.0452, having shed 5.6 per- ruary that the reading was above The need for stimulus was un- rialize risky asset classes could cent for the quarter so far, though the 50-point mark separating While the country is shorten- “It is broadening from goods to derscored by data showing Japa- recover most of their losses from it remains just above the May growth from contraction. It sat at ing quarantine times for new in- services and wage growth is accel- nese industrial output dived 7.2 the first half,” they wrote in a trough of $1.0348. It also dropped 47.8 in May. ternational arrivals, President Xi erating. percent in May, when analysts note. to a fresh 7.5-year low versus the Jinping warned this week that had looked for a dip of only 0.3 Swiss franc at 0.99663 francs. “As the situation of domestic China “would have faced un- “Even with rapid rate rises, it percent. Chinese blue chips add- Dollar in demand epidemic prevention and control imaginable consequences” had will take time for tightness in la- ed 1.6 percent helped by a survey For now, the risk of recession The Japanese yen is in even continued to improve and a pack- it adopted a herd immunity or bor markets to unwind, and that showing a marked pickup in ser- worse shape, with the dollar hav- age of policies [...] to stabilize the hands-off approach, signaling the means inflation can stay higher vices activity. was enough to bring US 10-year ing gained more than 12 percent economy was implemented at a government would persist with for longer.” yields back to 3.10 percent from this quarter to 136.50 and hitting quicker pace, the overall recov- its current policy. Analysts at JPMorgan expect a its highest since 1998. ery of our country’s economy has That suggests it is too early to accelerated,” National Bureau of The approach has taken a harsh pick a peak for interest rates or a Rising interest rates and a high Statistics (NBS) senior statistician toll on the economy, with shops bottom for stocks, even though dollar have not been good for non- Zhao Qinghe said in a statement. and factories forced to stop oper- markets have already fallen a long yielding gold, which was stuck at ations and supply chains strained. way. $1,816 an ounce having lost 6 per- In particular, business activ- cent for the quarter. ity in industries severely hit by The non-manufacturing re- The S&P 500 has lost almost 16 the pandemic such as rail and air bound in June was “mainly due percent this quarter, its worst per- Oil prices were flat on Thurs- transport picked up in June, the to more construction activity”, formance since the very start of day amid concerns about an un- statement said. said Iris Pang, chief economist for the pandemic, while the Nasdaq is seasonable slowdown in US gas- Greater China at ING. off an eye-watering 21 percent. oline demand, even as global Construction activity also supplies remain tight. helped fuel the PMI boost. “We think that it will be chal- On Thursday, S&P 500 futures lenging for the government to and Nasdaq futures were both OPEC and OPEC+ end two days But the “surprisingly rapid re- achieve the 5.5 percent GDP tar- down 0.4 percent with little sign of meetings on Thursday with lit- covery in services” likely reflects get set in March. There will need as yet that the new quarter would tle expectation they will be able to a one-off boost from reopening, to be a  lot more infrastructure bring in brave bargain hunters. pump much more oil despite US said Julian Evans-Pritchard, se- activity  if the government is to EUROSTOXX futures and FTSE pressure to expand quotas. achieve this target.” futures both fell 0.5 percent. September Brent rose 17 cents MSCI’s broadest index of Asia- to $112.62 a barrel, while US crude Pacific shares outside Japan added 7 cents to $109.85.

6 FRIDAY July 1, 2022 OPINION EDITORIAL Holywings case shows political appeal of conservatism persists Courageous mission Conservatism has be- Antara/Fauzan W e all should give credit to President Joko come a recurring theme “Jokowi” Widodo for the initiative and indeed in Indonesian public Forced closure: Police and public-order officers leave a Hollywings outlet in Lippo Karawaci, Tan- the courage he displayed on his trip to Kyiv. discourse. A couple of gerang, Banten, after shutting it down on Wednesday. The Tangerang administration followed in the Commendation also goes to First Lady days ago, Jakarta Governor Anies footstep of the Jakarta administration in closing the bar chain following a controversy over its promo- Iriana who stoically stood by the President, accompanying Baswedan revoked the business tional content which is deemed as blasphemous. him on the trip to what is currently the most dangerous war permits for 12 Holywings outlets zone in the world. Iriana is only the second First Lady to visit following the “Muhammad-Ma- By Rendy Pahrun Wadipalapa But again, politically speaking, war-torn Ukraine after United States President Joe Biden’s ria” controversy. invoking conservatism is intend- wife Jill made a surprise trip to the western part of Ukraine Leeds, United Kingdom ed to secure the orthodox Muslim in May. This decision was not a politi- base and preserve it for the elec- cal surprise. In recent years, there A political researcher, University of Leeds, tion in 2024. The photo of the Indonesian First Lady showing her hug- has been a growing invocation of United Kingdom ging a distressed patient in a Kyiv hospital is surely one for conservatism through religious Many officials and political the history books. symbols, particularly those of Is- to intimidate or engage in physi- However, after two days of elites effectively align with the lam, which is constantly main- cal violence against “deviant”, in- amok in the digital realms, Holy- respective paramilitary factions Such gestures and symbolism matter today because on tained to appeal to the Muslim dividuals or groups who are per- wings, was not “officially” shut and further play up their religi- the issue and substance, realistically there is only so much community as the biggest portion ceived as insulting Islamic values. down under the Blasphemy Law osity to gain support and win the that President Jokowi could bring to the table to bring the of potential voters in any election. but for violation of business per- favor of conservative constituen- war between Russia and Ukraine to an end. After all, with Tyson (2021, 200) examined mits (The Jakarta Post, June 28). cies. It is also no coincidence that his now trademark grim face and green army T-shirt, Ukrai- In this sense, we must view the numerous political calculations Anies himself is highly involved in nian President Volodymyr Zelensky also relies heavily on act of Governor Anies as not only behind Ahok’s blasphemy case, This “coincidental” action be- the upcoming presidential race, symbolism to deliver his message of Ukrainian resistance a sign of a belated state response including the considerable pres- tween Holywings’ controversial as many have reported, including to the world. but also a worrying trend in the sure from a quasi-state insti- promotion and its failure to obey pollsters and the media. persistent rise of conservative tution, the Indonesian Ulema the regulations can only be un- And if the second objective of the President’s trip to Kyiv politics at the heart of the nation. Council (MUI), and conservative derstood as an instrumentaliza- Under these circumstances, and Moscow is to help secure release the shipment of cereals More alarmingly, the issue of re- and vigilante Muslims groups tion of the state’s power. there is really no urgency to chal- and grain now trapped in Odessa to the world, that is also a voking the business permits has such as the Islam Defenders lenge the prevalent conservatism, monumental challenge. been conflated with the religious Front (FPI) through Aksi Bela Is- It indicates a sleight of hand considering its benefits in gaining mission and a sacred war against lam (Defend Islam Action). that allows the state to escape mass sympathy and consolidating Indeed, the odds are heavily stacked against President a demonic business. from engaging in blasphemy reg- potential voters. Jokowi being able to secure some kind a peace deal between With reference to the trial of ulation and from the accusation Russia and Ukraine right now. Although it showed a reaction- Ahok, the blasphemy was record- of politicizing religious matters. As shown in the Holywings ary response, the governor’s act is ed as being closely related to and case, few of the political elite were If anything, war on the ground intensified in the days lead- “reasonable”, since Indonesia has politically motivated by political The trick is substantial for at critical of the decision but rather ing to President Jokowi’s visit to Kyiv on Wednesday. struggled to calm its conservative rivalries, significantly, it influ- least two reasons. took sides against the company. tendency for years. enced the gubernatorial election Even some nationalist-oriented On Monday, a Russian attack on a shopping mall near Kyiv result. First, the state needs a more parties that stand on a pluralist killed 16 civilians and wounded dozens more. On Thursday, The Holywings case reminds pragmatic, simpler, but more ro- platform and multicultural-based while President Jokowi left Kyiv before setting off on the next the public of the blasphemy con- This configuration of actors bust approach to punishing with- policies have seemed unsure in leg of his journey to Moscow, Russian forces pressed on with viction of former Jakarta gover- can also be found in Telle’s work out getting more deeply involved their comments and responses. their offensive in the eastern part of Ukraine in Lysychansk. nor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Pur- (2018), which explores the case of in religious debates. nama, which now is considered a “religious deviants” in Lombok, The Holywings controversy Jokowi himself appears to realize how complicated the sit- crucial checkpoint on the road of West Nusa Tenggara. Second, using the Blasphemy therefore might be considered a uation is and only made the most modest of proposals during conservative politics. Law is now less popular since this political indicator to map which his meeting with Zelensky on Wednesday by offering to act as The protests and intimidation legislation is regarded as authori- actors deploy their power and use a courier between the two leaders. Both Ahok and Holywings share against certain deviants and, no- tarian in nature. It is also opposed this discourse to generate mass commonalities. Their controver- tably, minority figures were ini- by the majority of liberal urban- support. He offered to deliver a message from Zelensky to Rus- sies revived emotive politics on the tiated by vigilante citizens and modern society, which undoubt- sian leader Vladimir Putin, although it was not immediately basis of religious values and a com- involved state officials who ag- edly is a significant portion of po- With this in mind, engaging clear how the Ukrainian leader responded to the proposal or plex calculation to reframe figures gressively campaigned to prose- tential voters. more deeply in religious-based whether he had any message he wished to send to Putin, as as the people’s enemy. cute any blasphemous act. More sentiment will more likely occur Reuters has reported. examples can be drawn from the The conservative nature of so- in the current political mindset. With these backdrops, thus, I Foundation of the Indonesian Le- ciety is a crucial factor that has Ahead of 2024, the current use And of course, being the chair of the Group of 20 (G20), propose we look at the conserva- gal Aid Institute (YLBHI) reports accelerated the success of intol- of the conservative formula as a President Jokowi has a sincere interest in having everyone tive streak from two perspectives. of 67 blasphemy cases in 2020. erance and which has encouraged proxy is unlikely to change. attend the November summit in Bali. He appeared to have people to side with right-wing and earlier swayed some members of the Group of Seven (G7) First, to examine the quasi- conservative politics. into coming to Bali. tyrannical Blasphemy Law, and second, to connect the overblown British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned against elites’ perception of the 2024 boycotting the G20 Summit while German Chancellor Olaf election. Scholz has indicated he will join the meeting despite Putin’s presence. The Holywings case has stoked another moral panic, as well as Zelensky himself made a promise to Jokowi during their invoking the “morality police” to Wednesday meeting that he would attend the meeting de- engage in cancel culture. pending on the security situation. It remains to be seen if Jokowi will get an assurance from Putin during the upcom- However, the situation has ing meeting in Moscow. worsened since innumerable people, groups and associations This sounds like a good enough result for Jokowi. have started to report the bar in- After all, leaders of major powers like France’s Emmanuel dustry for religious blasphemy.  Macron and Germany’s Scholz have tried to broker peace in Ukraine and failed. Since the dramatic fall of Ahok in 2017, some scholars have noted that the Blasphemy Law allows state officials and vigilante groups Alas, the Palestinian cause is taking its dying breath After 15 years of Israel’s By Azhar Azam Sanctions (BDS) movement and economy, tells how the West ma- states including Qatar, Bahrain ruthless land, air and sea bill it as anti-Semitic. nipulates between respect of hu- and Oman established diplomat- blockade of Gaza — which Lahore, Pakistan man rights and international law ic connections with Israel even as ensued the United States failure They, at the same time, sup- and self-interests. the reconciliation disintegrated to anticipate Hamas win in 2006 An analyst on geopolitical issues and regional conflicts port and bully nations to back the in 2000 as tension flared follow- Palestine legislative election and isolation campaign against Rus- The EU embargo on Russian oil ing the second intifada. brought forth America’s covert nity pay another lip service to the thirst with human blood. sia and exclusion of the Kremlin may cut “a huge source of financ- Middle East mission to buck up Israeli tyranny before redeploy- The scale and magnitude of from international bodies and ing for its war machine”; the tri- The Saudi Arabia’s proposed “putschist” Mohammed Dahlan ing focus on Ukraine. the world economy. This is a per- partite treaty to buy natural gas, Arab Peace Initiative in 2002 destroy Hamas militarily — the “sorrow and despair” the West fect illustration of blatant West- to be liquefied in Egyptian plants, paired normalization with estab- Palestinian coastal enclave is It was May 2021 when the op- feels for Gaza is far lesser than ern hypocrisy that is smitten with from Israel provides transactional lishment of a sovereign Palestin- still the major casualty of Israeli pressive Israeli forces launched Ukraine because Palestine, like racist profile or white supremacy. immunity to the Israeli jets, tanks ian state, the plan de facto lent repression for they voted out Fa- its last major offensive on Gaza Afghanistan and Iraq, isn’t “civi- and bulldozers to target the con- legitimacy to Israeli state. After tah against the will of Israel and to petrify the orphans of its 51- lized” and a majority of the Pales- A new wave of normalization fined men, women and children in Egypt and Jordan stepped back the US. day bombing campaign in 2014 — tinians don’t have blonde hair or in the greater Middle East adds Gaza with high latitude and then from the Khartoum Resolution which killed more than 2,200 Pal- blue eyes. insult to Palestine injuries. Sever- make them starve to death by de- to recognize Israel — the United Nearly 80 percent people of estinians including 500 children al Arab states have already estab- stroying their farmlands. Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan the besieged territory, according — and exterminated some 253 Unlike the Ukrainians, whose lished diplomatic relations under and Morocco have forged diplo- to the United Nations, are in dire Palestinians in addition to com- video of Molotov cocktails was the Abraham Accords with Israel Another Palestine’s staunch matic relations with Israel. need of humanitarian assistance pletely erasing 1,800 houses. telecasted on the mainstream me- and others are lining up to follow ally, Turkey, is warming up to- as half of the 2 million population dia to project their right of self- the course. ward Israel. After 15 years, Turk- Meanwhile, Iran’s interven- lives in poverty with 80 percent Air raids in the Gaza Strip and defense, Israel has the privilege to ish Foreign Minister Mevlut Ca- tion in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and unemployed youth. The Save the the occupied West Bank is a quint- exercise the punitive expedition The European Union’s gas vusoglu last month arrived in Yemen to expand region-wide Children paints a bleak picture of essential pastime for the Israeli as- against Palestinians without stint. deal with Egypt and Israel dur- Israel to normalize ties and ad- influence as well as tactic to use the children, four to five of whom sailants as they continue hunting ing a regional summit in Cai- dress disagreements. Palestine as leverage for negotia- are growing up in a climate of “de- down Palestinians to quench their Israel’s allies delegitimize Pal- ro, aimed at punishing Russia’s tions with the US has deepened pression, grief and fear”. estine’s Boycott, Divestment and Earlier in March, Israeli Presi- the prospect of any regional con- dent Isaac Herzog reached Ankara sensus on Palestine. Over the last one and a half de- Reuters/Ammar Awad where Turkish President Recep cade, children in the world’s larg- Tayyip Erdogan described his visit Tehran has been selling its “re- est open-air prison have endured Ruined: Palestinian bride Rabeha Al-Rajabi stands on the debris of her damaged house as part of her as a “turning point” and the coun- sistance” narrative via its proxy five major escalations and the pre-wedding ceremony in East Jerusalem on June 10. The house was partly demolished by Israeli au- try’s relationship with Israel “his- Hezbollah while avoiding a direct pandemic. thority. toric”. conflict with Israel and playing the Palestine card to “garner pop- While 800,000 children never Turkey insists its normaliza- ular support” in the wider Gulf. knew life without blockade, eco- tion will be antithetical to Gulf nomic deprivation and lack of ac- rapprochement with Israel, ar- Given there haven’t been any cess to essential services such as guing it would augment Ankara’s serious peace talks between Pal- health care as well as an incessant role in a two-state solution. estine and Israel for more than a threat to their lives are adding to decade and all countries compete the misery of the incarcerated Pal- Yet the Turkish appeasing and with one another as to how best estinian children and youngsters. submissive posture itself and exploit the leverage over Pales- craving for energy cooperation tine to its advantage, the Middle A symptom of trauma and with Israel is akin to endorse Is- East’s promise to Palestine is al- abuse, temporary reactive mut- raeli crimes of apartheid and per- most dead. ism, in children is prevalent. Poor secution, putting a big question hygiene due to inadequate access mark over its commitment to the The PLO retraction from his- to clean water and sanitation in- Palestinian cause. torical position gave a walkover creases the risk of infection and to Israel and the ongoing covert antibiotic resistance in Gazans. In the 1990s after signing of the and overt connections between Oslo Accords — through which Arab states and Israel, spurred The beleaguered Palestinians the Palestine Liberation Orga- by Iran’s pursuit of the regional are scarily waiting for the apart- nization (PLO) handed over 78 dominance, alas, will be the last heid state’s next power display on percent of the Palestinian land nail in the coffin of the Palestin- them to let international commu- to Israel and gave legitimacy to ian independence. the Jewish state — several Gulf Senior Editors : Endy M. Bayuni, Vincent Lingga, Editorial Advisory Board : Endy M. Bayuni EDITORIAL AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT Kornelius Purba Ombudsman : Vincent Lingga, Bregas Aditya Jl. Palmerah Barat 142-143, Jakarta 10270 PUBLISHED BY PT BINA MEDIA TENGGARA SINCE 1983 (62) (21) 5300476, 5300478 ● Fax (62) (21) 5350050, 5306971  [email protected] Board of Directors : Jusuf Wanandi, Judistira Wanandi, Editor-at-large : Ary Hermawan Head of print : Niken Prathivi ADVERTISING AND CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT M. Taufiqurrahman, Maggie Tiojakin EDITORIAL STAFF: Abdur Rahim, Andi Muhammad Ibnu Aqil, Andre Arditya, Dwi Atmanta, Elly Burhaini Faizal, Jl. Palmerah Barat 142-143, Jakarta 10270 & Mikha Ramadewi Hans David Tampubolon, Ina Parlina, Indah Setiawati, Kharishar Kahfi, Michael Hegarty, Mark Lempp, Novan Iman Santosa, Risty Nurraisa, Tama Salim, Wendra Ajistyatama (62) (21) 5360001, 5360003, 68469983 ● FAX (62) (21) 5360008, 5360009 Editor-in-Chief/Guarantor : M. 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OPINION 7FRIDAY July 1, 2022 The promising prospect of a nuclear treaty Representatives of gov- By Damos Dumoli Agusman and Indra Rosandry answer the inconclusive opinion tomary rule. The measure will be for the norm of prohibition of nu- ernments, interna- of the International Court of Jus- likely unsuccessful considering clear weapon to be categorized as tional organizations Vienna tice (ICJ) in its advisory opinion that the main condition required jus cogens? and civil society groups on legality of nuclear weapons in for attaining customary status gathered for the first time in Vien- Damos Dumoli Agusman and Indra Rosan- 1996, which had indicated that has been arguably met, i.e. state This would be an interesting na June 21-23 for the first meet- dry are respectively the head and a member of there was no such international practices as well as opinio juris though delicate issue and has ing of states party to the Treaty on the Indonesian delegation to the first meeting rule prohibiting the use of nucle- (an opinion of law or necessity). been raised in scholarly debates. the Prohibition of Nuclear Weap- of state parties to the Treaty on the Prohibi- ar weapons. TPNW, with its sig- The discussion will be relevant to ons (TPNW), following its entry tion of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna. nificant number of parties, might It manifests in a significant the future of the TPNW in term into force in January last year. reverse the 1996 ICJ advisory number of signatories to the of its potential universalization This treaty also helps mitigate From the beginning, they ar- opinion. TPNW and their commitments by virtue of customary interna- Signed in 2017, the treaty has the catastrophic humanitarian gued, and now continue to argue, to a nuclear weapon-free world. tional law.  received 86 signatories and 65 consequences of using and test- that TPNW is not compatible Third, aside from the non- The measure will however en- ratifications within the last five ing nuclear weapons, by requiring with the Treaty on the Non-Pro- compatibility issue of TPNW able them to enjoy persistent- This controversial issue of jus years, even despite the COVID-19 states parties to assist victims of liferation of Nuclear Weapons vs. NPT mentioned above, the objector rule, by which they will cogens has been addressed by pandemic, with more expected to nuclear testing. (NPT). The former prohibits nu- nuclear states are quite worried not be bound by the customary the United Nations Internation- join, including Indonesia. Jakarta clear weapons while the latter about if the prohibition norm rule to which they have persis- al Law Commission (ILC). In its has signed the treaty and is about The treaty warrants strong only prohibits their proliferation. under the TPNW is developing tently objected. 2022 report, the ILC concluded to ratify it. hope for finally providing a legal and becoming a customary-in- that the persistent objector rule framework to completely delegit- They attempt to say the two ternational law. But a curious question arises: does not apply to jus cogens and, The Vienna meeting adopted a imize nuclear weapons. treaties mutually negate each What would happen if such rule further, acceptance and recogni- historical yet ambitious declara- other, thus it is most unlikely that According to the internation- of nuclear prohibition is devel- tion by all states is not required. tion with its action plan, where The TPNW is an interesting a state can be a party to both trea- al-law textbook, once it acquires oped into jus cogens rules, or ac- state parties commit to imple- instrument from a legal point of ties without ignoring one for the customary-rule status, it will cepted and recognized by the in- Consequently, the nuclear- ment the obligations enshrined view. It is welcomed by the ma- sake of the other. But this is not bind nuclear states regardless of ternational community of states weapons states should not neces- in this nuclear-weapon-ban trea- jority of states, but not by nuclear unusual for international law whether they are parties or not as a whole from which no deroga- sarily be parties to the TPNW, for ty, ranging from providing as- states. treaties. to TPNW. tion is permitted and which can the norm of prohibiting nuclear sistance to victims of nuclear be modified only by a subsequent weapons acquiring its jus cogens weapon use and testing, to uni- With rays of hope after the first TPNW has solved the problem To prevent it, they take a “per- norm of general international law character. versalizing the treaty. meeting of state parties, and chal- by providing a standard clause in sistent objection” measure by having the same character? lenges from nuclear states, the Article 18 on “relationships be- orchestrally stating that “they Nevertheless, whether or not The treaty arguably becomes question now is how prospective tween other agreements”, i.e. that do not accept any claim that the Since jus cogens rules valid the TPNW prohibition norm has the first legally binding instru- is this treaty in the future?   the implementation of the treaty treaty contributes to the devel- erga omnes (valid for all), then substantively been recognized as ment that comprehensively pro- shall not prejudice obligations opment of customary interna- could nuclear states hide behind jus cogens is a question subject to hibits the use, threat of use, de- The followings are some per- of states’ parties under existing tional law”. their persistent objection to pro- further interesting legal debate. velopment, testing, production, sonal provoking thoughts. treaties to which they are party, hibition of nuclear weapons as jus In case of doubt, ICJ is authorized manufacturing, acquisition, pos- provided that those obligations This is an international legal cogens?  to determine its jus cogens status session or stockpiling of nuclear First, the nine nuclear states are consistent with the treaty. measure aimed at aborting the when it is duly requested. weapons. and NATO members, particular- embryonic prohibition norm of In other words, must accep- ly the five Security Council per- Second, TPNW could finally the treaty from becoming cus- tance of all countries be required The TPNW therefore has a manent members (P5), maintain promising future. their opposition to the treaty. A tale of two cities as Xi Jinping visits Hong Kong By Ivan Watson CNN/Hong Kong, China Senior international correspondent at CNN “Manhattan meets Ha- the once bustling terminal stands Reuters/Pool/Evan Vucci waii.” That’s how largely empty. I described Hong Climate preach: United States President Joe Biden speaks during the Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment event Kong to outsiders when I first The strict anti-COVID-19 mea- at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 2, 2021. moved here seven years ago, daz- sures, part of the government’s zled by glittering skyscrapers ring- zero-COVID approach, have also Climate hypocrisyensures globalwarming ing lush green mountains next to triggered an exodus of people and the sea. talent from this now incredibly Rich country governments By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram rich nations had pledged in 2009 isolated city. claim the high moral in concessional climate finance This was a modern, efficient city ground on climate action. Inter Press Service/Sydney/Kuala Lumpur for developing countries. where the realtor looked befud- My wife and I met and mar- But many deny their far greater dled when I asked about the risk of ried in Hong Kong and started a responsibility for both historic Anis Chowdhury is an adjunct professor at Considering its national in- blackouts, a chronic problem in my family here. But since our daugh- and contemporary greenhouse gas Western Sydney University and University of come and cumulative emissions, former place of residence, Istanbul. ter’s birth, we have lived in fear (GHG) emissions, once acknowl- New South Wales and former director of the the US should provide at least $43 that if any of us tests positive for edged by the Kyoto Protocol. Macroeconomic Policy and Development Di- billion-$50 billion in climate fi- “But we need electricity,” she COVID-19, the authorities could vision, United Nations Economic and Social nance annually. Others insist the explained. separate us from our 13-month- Worse, responsibility has not Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ES- US owes the developing world old and lock us away in a govern- been matched by commensurate CAP). Jomo Kwame Sundaram is a senior adviser at the Khazanah much more, considering their “For the elevators and the air ment-run COVID isolation camp. efforts, especially by the largest Research Institute and was an economics professor and UN assis- needs and damages due to US conditioners.” rich economies in the Group of tant secretary-general for economic development. emissions, e.g., suggesting $800 Even Beijing loyalists con- Seven (G7), which dominates the billion over the decade to 2030. Residents looked at me with cede zero-COVID has hurt Hong Group of 20 (G20). Its continued for the GHG emissions worsening threat to human existence” and the same incomprehension when Kong’s reputation as a safe and control of international econom- global warming, but also have the pledged to cut US emissions by up In 2017-2018, the US delivered I asked about Hong Kong’s un- reliable international crossroads. ic resources and policymaking least means to cope and protect to 51 percent by 2030. $10 billion to the pledged $100 usual political system. I was sur- blocks progress on climate justice. themselves. billion annual climate finance — prised to learn that elected law- “We have lost some of the ad- Biden had claimed his “Build less than Japan’s $27 billion, Ger- makers could stand on the floor of vantages that we used to enjoy “That is the greatest injustice Thus, climate justice demands Back Better” (BBB) package many’s $20 billion and France’s the city’s legislature and ridicule in the past,” former Hong Kong of climate change: that those who wealthy nations — most respon- of proposed social and climate $15 billion, despite the US econ- the Chinese national government. chief executive CY Leung told me bear the least responsibility for sible for cumulative and current spending would be a cornerstone omy being larger than all three How was it possible that in this this month. climate change are the ones who GHG emissions — not only reduce of restoring international trust in combined. corner of Communist-ruled China, will suffer the most,” says Mary the harm they cause, but also help the US commitment to stem glob- open dissent could be tolerated? “But we’ll regain it as soon as Robinson, former United Na- those with less means to cope. al warming. President Obama pledged $3 we have COVID under control,” tions high commissioner for hu- billion to the Green Climate Fund Much like the ever-present he insisted. man rights. Wealthy countries have done At the G7 Summit last year, (GCF) — the UN’s flagship climate electricity, Hong Kong’s remark- little to keep their 2009 promises Biden announced his vision of a finance initiative — but delivered able freedoms were accepted as I anticipated some of the elab- On a per capita basis, the Unit- to provide US$100 billion annu- “Build Back Better World” (B3W) only $1 billion. Trump totally re- part of the fabric of the city. Re- orate COVID-prevention mea- ed States and close allies — Saudi ally to help developing countries. would define the G7 alternative to pudiated this modest pledge. ligions, political opinions, and sures I would have to undergo as Arabia, the United Arab Emir- Most climate finance has been ear- China’s multitrillion-dollar Belt forms of artistic expression a journalist to cover ceremonies ates, Australia and Canada — marked for mitigation. But this ig- and Road Initiative (BRI). At the April 2021 Earth Day banned on the mainland not only commemorating the 25th anni- produce more than 100 times the nores their needs and priorities, leaders’ summit, Biden vowed to endured but were celebrated in versary of the Hong Kong hando- planet-warming GHG emissions as developing countries need help All this was premised on US nearly double Obama’s pledge to this former British colony. ver on July 1, which are expected of some African countries. to adapt to climate change and to ability to lead from the front, with $5.7 billion, with $1.5 billion for to be attended by Chinese Presi- cope with losses and damages due momentum growing once BBB adaptation. But even this amount The Great Internet Firewall, dent Xi Jinping. The African population pro- to global warming. became law. But his legislative is far short of what the US should which blocked Gmail and Twit- duced about 1.1 metric tons of package has stalled. Unable to at- contribute, given its means and ter and Instagram, ended at the Journalists had to take daily carbon (dioxide equivalent) The Organization for Econom- tract the needed votes in the Sen- total emissions. internal boundary between main- polymerase chain reaction (PCR) emissions per person in 2019, ic Cooperation and Development ate, BBB is “dead in the water”. land China and Hong Kong. tests the week prior to the event. under a quarter of the 4.7 tons club of rich countries has been After the European Commis- A government email announced global average. The US emitted criticized for exaggerating cli- Putting on a brave face, US sion president highlighted this in This unusual arrangement was journalists also had to check into 16.1 tons — nearly four times the mate finance, but acknowledges, Senate majority leader Chuck September 2021, Biden vowed to protected by international trea- a designated hotel for stringent global average. “Australia, Japan and the Unit- Schumer promises to bring the again double the US contribution ties dating to before Hong Kong’s closed-loop management two ed States consider financing for legislation to a vote early next to $11.4 billion yearly by 2024, 1997 handover from British to days before Xi’s visit.There they GHG emissions accumulate high-efficiency coal plants as a year. But with their party’s de- boasting this would “make the US Chinese rule, plus Beijing’s own would be confined to their rooms, over time and trap heat, warming form of climate finance.” clining political fortunes, likely a leader in international climate commitment to respect the city’s before being tested again three the planet. The US has emitted “horse-trading” to pass the bill finance”. autonomy, under the formula hours before the event. over a quarter of all GHG emis- It reports climate finance of will almost certainly further un- “one country, two systems”. sions since the 1750s, while Eu- US$79.6 billion in 2019, but these dermine Biden’s promises. At COP26, the US cited this in- But three days into my PCR rope accounts for 33 percent. By figures are hotly contested. creased GCF promise to block de- Many argue that commitment tests I received a phone call from contrast, Africa, South America Meanwhile, breaking his 2020 veloping countries’ call for a share crumbled in 2020, when Bei- the same government Informa- and India contributed about 3 However, “commercial credit” campaign promise, Biden ap- of revenue from voluntary bilat- jing’s appointed administration tion Services Department. percent each, while China con- is typically not concessional. But proved nearly 900 more permits eral carbon trading. The US has in Hong Kong rammed through tributed 12.7 percent. when it is, it implies official sub- to drill on public land in 2021, also opposed developing coun- a National Security Law after “Your application to cover the sidies for “bankable”, “for profit” more than president Trump in tries’ call for a funding facility to a year of increasingly violent 25th anniversary has been reject- Wealth inequalities worsen cli- projects. 2017. While exhorting others to help vulnerable nations cope with street protests. ed by the police,” a polite woman mate injustice. The world’s richest cut fossil fuel reliance, his admin- loss and damage due to global named Chris told me. 5 percent were responsible for 37 Many also doubt much of this istration is now urging US compa- warming. Within short order, police be- percent of GHG emissions growth funding is truly additional, and nies and allies to produce more, gan arresting opposition lawmak- She could not provide a reason during 1990-2015, while the bot- not just diverted (“repurposed”) invoking Ukraine war sanctions. Worse, the US Congress has ers and prodemocracy activists on for the rejection. Local media re- tom half of the world’s population from other ends. Private finance approved only $1 billion for in- various charges, while also target- port at least 10 news agencies saw accounted for 7 percent! also rarely goes where it is most At COP26, Biden promised to ternational climate finance for ing and shutting down indepen- their reporters similarly rejected, needed while increasing debt help developing nations reduce 2022 — only $387 million more dent newspapers. Statues that had purportedly on security grounds. Poor regions and people take burdens for borrowers. carbon emissions, pledging to than in the Trump era. At that commemorated the victims of the the brunt of global warming. The double US climate change aid. But rate, it would take until 2050 to 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre These days, I’ve taken to refer- tropical zone is much more vul- At the COP26 Climate Summit even this is still well short of its get to $11.4 billion. Unsurprising- in Beijing were quietly removed ring to Hong Kong as “the Tale nerable to rapid climate change. in Glasgow in November 2021, US proportionate share of the gross- ly, Biden made only passing men- from university campuses. of Two Cities”. On the one hand, Most of these countries and com- President Joe Biden described ly inadequate $100 billion yearly tion of climate and energy in his parts of the government bureau- munities bear little responsibility climate change as “an existential last State of the Union address. Today, few Hong Kongers dare cracy still try to promote Hong to speak critically of the govern- Kong as a business-friendly cen- ment in public — except when it ter for international trade. comes to the administration’s ad- herence to China’s “zero-COVID” It is the kind of place that quick- policy. ly and efficiently granted me “per- manent resident” status after I Since 2020, this government- had lived and worked here for sev- led effort to eradicate the virus en years. But at the same time, an from Chinese shores has all-but obsession with state control and closed off Hong Kong and China’s the smothering of dissent that is borders from the outside world. the hallmark of President Xi’s Chi- It has also subjected residents to na has also taken root here. lockdowns and social-distancing measures that have devastated These competing, contradic- both economies. tory impulses often give the city a schizophrenic feel. As each Signs still greet rare new arriv- month goes by here there are few- als at Hong Kong’s airport with er reasons to doubt which trend the slogan “Asia’s World City”, but will dominate Hong Kong in the years to come. Please send your articles to [email protected].

8 FRIDAY July 1, 2022 WORLD sIsertaseNliopv.a1relilaecmtieonntddaistesolves, India’s women water warriors transform parched lands Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to take over as caretaker PM Jalees Andrabi dry spells since a drought was de- clared at the turn of the century. Yasmin Zaher and Ben Simon Agence France-Presse/Chhatarpur, India Civil society activist Sanjay Agence France-Presse/Jerusalem AFP/Menahem Kahana As the monsoon storms bear Singh helped train women in Israeli lawmakers dissolved par- down on India, a dedicated group Agrotha to harvest and store rain- liament on Thursday, forcing the Dissolution discussion: Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid (left) and outgoing Prime of women hope that after years of water after the surrounding land country’s fifth election in less Minister Naftali Bennett, speak to each other at the Knesset (parliament), following the dissolution backbreaking labor, water short- was desiccated by drought. than four years, with Foreign of the parliament, in Jerusalem on Thursday. ages will no longer leave their vil- Minister Yair Lapid set to take lage high and dry. By doing so, he helped the vil- over as caretaker prime minister potential return to office as a na- 475,000 Jewish settlers in the oc- positions, but it is certainly possi- lage rediscover knowledge that at midnight. tional threat. cupied West Bank lived under Is- ble and necessary to put aside, for The world’s second-most pop- was lost decades earlier, when wa- raeli law. a while, ideological debates and ulous country is struggling to ter went from being a community- The final dissolution bill, which “What we need to do today is take care of the economy, security meet the water needs of its 1.4 managed resource to one adminis- passed with 92 votes in favor and go back to the concept of Israeli Some Arab lawmakers in the and future of the citizens of Isra- billion people — a problem wors- tered by India’s government. none against, ends the year-long unity. Not to let dark forces tear coalition refused to back a bill el,” he said in his farewell address ening as climate change makes premiership of Naftali Bennett, us apart from within,” Lapid said. they said marked a de facto en- on Wednesday, which did not rule weather patterns more unpre- “But government has failed who led an eight-party coalition dorsement of a 55-year occu- out an eventual return to politics. dictable. to ensure water to every citizen, that was backed by an Arab party, Bennett led a coalition of right- pation that has forced West particularly in rural areas, push- a first in Israeli history. wingers, centrists, doves and Is- Bank Palestinians to live under Bennett will stay on as alter- Few places have it tougher than ing villagers to go back to the old lamists from the Raam faction, Israeli rule. nate prime minister responsible Bundelkhand, a region south of practice,” he told AFP. Following the vote, Lapid and which made history by becoming for Iran policy, as world powers the Taj Mahal, where scarce wa- Bennett immediately swapped the first Arab party to support an For Bennett, a staunch sup- take steps to revive stalled talks ter supplies have pushed despair- Before Agrotha’s irrigation seats in the parliament — the Israeli government since the Jew- porter of settlements, allowing on Tehran’s nuclear program. ing farmers on the plains to give project began, women had to walk Knesset — and Lapid was em- ish state’s creation. the so-called West Bank law to ex- up their lands and take up precar- miles every day in a desperate and braced by members of his cen- pire was intolerable. Dissolving Israel opposes a restoration ious work in the cities. often fruitless search for a well trist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) But the alliance, united by its parliament before its June 30 ex- of the 2015 agreement that gave that was not dry. party. desire to oust Netanyahu and piration temporarily renews the Iran sanctions relief in exchange “Our elders say that this stream break a damaging cycle of incon- measure. for limits on its nuclear program. used to run full throughout the In India’s villages, fetching wa- Bennett said late on Wednes- clusive elections, was imperiled year, but now there is not a single ter is traditionally the responsi- day that he would not stand in the from the outset by its ideological In the weeks before his coali- Lapid will retain his foreign drop,” said Babita Rajput while bility of women, several of whom upcoming election set for Nov. divides. tion unraveled, Bennett sought to minister title while serving as Is- guiding AFP past a bone-dry fis- have faced violence from their 1, which will see veteran right- highlight its successes, including rael’s 14th premier. He will find sure in the earth near her village. husbands after being unable to wing opposition leader Benjamin Farewell address what he characterized as proof himself under an early micro- find enough for their households, Netanyahu attempt to reclaim Bennett said the final straw that ideological rivals could gov- scope, with United States Presi- “There is a water crisis in our Singh said. power. ern together. dent Joe Biden due in Jerusalem area,” she added. was a failure to renew a measure in two weeks. He added that drought had Netanyahu has promised that that would ensure the roughly “No one should give up their “All our wells have dried up.” brought big social changes to the his alliance of right-wingers, ul- Three years ago, Rajput joined region, pushing men to move to cit- tra-nationalists and ultra-Ortho- Jal Saheli (Friends of Water), ies and leave their families behind. dox Jewish parties will win the a volunteer network of around upcoming vote, but opinion polls 1,000 women working across But since it was founded in show he may also struggle to rally Bundelkhand to rehabilitate and 2005, the Jal Saheli initiative has a parliamentary majority. revive disappeared water sources. helped more than 110 villages be- Together they carry rocks and come self-reliant for their water Bennett will host Lapid for mix concrete to build dams, ponds needs and aided in reversing the a handover ceremony later on and embankments to catch the outward flow of people. Thursday, the prime minister’s fruits of the June monsoon, a sea- office said. son which accounts for about 75 Dust bowl to oasis percent of India’s annual rainfall. In the nearby Lalitpur district, The outgoing premier will also Agrotha, where Rajput lives, hand the leadership of his reli- is one of more than 300 villages the elderly Srikumar has seen the gious nationalist Yamina Party to where women are chalking out initiative transform her commu- his long-time political ally, Interi- plans for new catchment sites, nity from a dust bowl into an oasis. or Minister Ayelet Shaked. reservoirs and waterway revital- izations. She heard about the volunteer ‘Dark forces’ Rajput said their work had group a decade ago after suffering Netanyahu’s main challenger helped them retain monsoon through years of water shortages, rainwater for longer and revive by the end of which every well and will likely be long-time foe La- half a dozen water bodies around hand pump in her village of 500 pid, a former celebrity news an- their village. people had run dry. chor who has surprised many Though not yet self-sufficient, since being dismissed as a light- Agrotha’s residents are no longer Most of the farms in the area weight when he entered politics a among the roughly 600 million had turned barren because of a decade ago. Indians that a government think- lack of irrigation, and dehydrated tank says face acute water short- cattle herds were dying in sum- Bennett’s motley alliance, ages daily. mer temperatures close to 50 de- formed with Lapid in June 2021, The women’s efforts provide a grees Celsius. offered a reprieve from an un- rare glimmer of hope as national precedented era of political grid- shortages worsen. “Villagers suffered a lot during lock, ending Netanyahu’s record Water utilities in the capital those days,” Srikumar said. 12 consecutive years in power and New Delhi fail to meet demand passing Israel’s first state budget in summer, with trucks regularly “Farming was impossible and since 2018. traveling into slums to supply res- men were fleeing their homes to idents unable to draw water from cities to earn a living.” As the pair announced plans their taps. to end their coalition last week, India’s NITI Aayog public pol- With the help of Singh’s char- Lapid sought to cast Netanyahu’s icy center forecasts that around ity, Srikumar and a dozen other 40 percent of the country’s popu- volunteers dug a football field- Taliban to meet US on releasing frozen funds after quake lation could be without access to sized reservoir near the village drinking water by the end of the that holds up to 3 meters of water Agence France-Presse to have such discussions in or- tral Bank has not been finalized”, of ordinary Afghans so that they decade. after the monsoon rains arrive. der to advance US interests,” he told AFP. can afford to buy bread, cooking Doha said a spokesperson for the US oil, sugar and fuel,” alleviating the ‘Government has failed’ The village now has enough The United States and the Tal- State Department, which does “It is going to take a while. misery of families facing high in- Erratic rainfall patterns and water reserves to meet its needs iban plan to hold talks in Qa- not recognize Taliban rule over These things do not happen over- flation, he said. year-round and replenish the tar on Thursday on unlocking Afghanistan. night.” extreme heat have been linked to earth that had dried out before some of Afghanistan’s reserves Use of the funds “can be inde- climate change in Bundelkhand, their intervention. following a devastating earth- The Taliban took over in Au- ‘Get these funds moving’ pendently monitored and audited which has suffered several long quake, officials have said, with gust 2021 after the US gave up a White House Press Secretary by external auditing firms with an “Things have changed for good. Washington seeking ways to en- 20-year military effort. option to terminate in the event We have enough water now, not sure the money goes to help the Karine Jean-Pierre said over the of misuse,” he said. just for our homes but also for our population. Washington at the time froze weekend that efforts were under- cattle,” she told AFP. US$7 billion in reserves and the way “to get these funds moving” The United Nations has The White House said it was international community halted from the frozen reserves. warned that half the country is “Our lives would have been working “urgently” on the effort, billions in direct aid that Afghani- threatened with food shortages. miserable without this pond,” she but a member of the Afghan cen- stan and its population of roughly “We are urgently working to added. tral bank’s board said it could take 40 million people had relied on. address complicated questions The US earlier said it was con- time to finalize. about the use of these funds to tributing nearly $55 million to re- “It would have been very diffi- The currency has collapsed ensure they benefit the people lief efforts made more urgent by cult to survive.” The Taliban’s foreign minis- and the country descended into a of Afghanistan and not the Tal- the earthquake, directing aid to ter, Amir Khan Muttaqi, arrived serious economic crisis, although iban,” she told reporters trav- groups working in Afghanistan. Hands on in the Qatari capital Doha along some assistance has been re- eling with President Joe Biden with Finance Ministry and cen- stored. to Europe. The Taliban are still consid- Reuters/Selim Chtayti tral bank officials for talks, Tal- ered a terrorist group by the US, iban Foreign Ministry spokesman Last week’s 5.9-magnitude In question are $3.5 billion which has insisted that any im- China's President Xi Jinping speaks upon his arrival via high-speed Hafiz Zia Ahmed said. earthquake in eastern Afghani- in frozen reserves, half the total provement of relations would be rail, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the former British colony's han- stan, which killed more than blocked by the US government. dependent on meeting key con- dover to Chinese rule, in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday. Xi is to The State Department said its 1,000 people and left tens of thou- cerns, including on the treatment swear in the global financial hub's new leader, John Lee, on Friday envoy on Afghanistan, Tom West, sands homeless, adds urgency to “I have argued that these re- of women. during his first visit to the city since 2017, which is also his first known would take part and said the US the funding debate. serves should be released to the trip outside the mainland in more than two years, amid the COVID-19 was focused on a range of inter- Central Bank,” said Mehrabi, who Biden in February gave the pandemic. ests, including human rights and “Negotiations are underway, also is an economics professor at green light for the other half of opening schools for girls. and it is our expectation that a Montgomery College in the sub- the frozen reserves to go to com- final proposal under discussion urbs of the US capital. pensating survivors and families “None of these engagements will be finalized,” said Shah Meh- of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 should be seen as ‘legitimizing’ rabi, member of the Supreme He proposed a “limited, moni- attacks, which triggered the in- the Taliban or its so-called gov- Council of the Central Bank of Af- tored release of reserves” of about vasion in which the US toppled ernment but are a mere reflec- ghanistan. $150 million each month to pay the Taliban and kept afloat a pro- tion of the reality that we need for imports. Western government for two However, “the mechanism to decades. transfer the reserves to the Cen- That would help “stabilize prices and help meet the needs Japan’s Kirin off-loads Myanmar beer business over coup AFP Agence France-Presse proceedings would not be fair. enue to the junta. democratic reforms and econom- Kirin said on Thursday that it Justice for Myanmar spokes- ic liberalization. Last call: A man pours Myanmar Beer at a restaurant in Yangon Tokyo on Thursday. Japanese drinks giant Kirin said had agreed a share buyback worth woman Yadanar Maung called the But a raft of foreign companies on Thursday that it had agreed to a about 22.4 billion yen (US$164 deal “a windfall for the Myanmar have exited the market since the buyout of its shares in a Myanmar million) to transfer its 51 percent military”, warning it would “en- military seized power from Aung joint venture with a junta-linked stake back into the subsidiary, sure a continued stream of rev- San Suu Kyi’s government, in- conglomerate as it seeks to exit the ending the joint venture. enue to finance atrocity crimes”. cluding oil giants TotalEnergies market after the 2021 coup. and Chevron and Norwegian tele- The deal remains to be ap- “Kirin must reverse this de- coms operator Telenor. Days after the putsch in Febru- proved and a date for the share plorable decision or be held ac- ary last year, Kirin announced it transfer has not yet been set. countable for aiding and abetting Kirin’s Myanmar business gen- would end its joint venture Myan- the military’s ongoing interna- erated 32.6 billion yen in revenue mar Brewery with the junta-linked “We are relieved to settle this tional crimes,” she added. in 2019-2020, less than 2 percent MEHPCL, saying it was “deeply matter within the announced of the firm’s annual sales. concerned by the recent actions of deadline by the most appropriate According to figures published the military in Myanmar”. means among several options,” by Kirin in 2018, Myanmar Brew- The Japanese giant had been Yoshinori Isozaki, Kirin’s presi- ery — whose beverages include under pressure even before the But it struggled to disentan- dent and CEO, said in a statement. the ubiquitous Myanmar Beer coup over its ties to the military gle itself from the secretive con- brand — boasted a market share and launched an investigation af- glomerate and contested a bid by But activists said the decision of nearly 80 percent. ter rights groups called for trans- MEHPCL to dissolve the joint to sell the shares in Myanmar parency into whether money from venture as it feared liquidation Brewery and the smaller Manda- Investors piled into Myanmar its joint venture had funded rights lay Brewery back to the company after the military relaxed its iron abuses. effectively hands control and rev- grip in 2011, paving the way for

WORLD 9FRIDAY July 1, 2022 MsuarxviimvinugmPlaifreiste2r0m15faotrtascokleer WHO wants vaccine efficacy data in monkeypox fight Trial was culmination of six-year-long investigation Robin Millard The vast majority of cases so far have been observed in men Alain Jean-Robert, Agence France-Presse/Geneva, who have sex with men, of young Anne-Sophie Lasserre Switzerland age, chiefly in urban areas, in and Marie Dhumieres The World Health Organization “clustered social and sexual net- on Wednesday appealed for vigi- works”, according to the WHO. Agence France-Presse/Paris AFP/Benoit Peyrucq lance to ensure monkeypox does The sole surviving member of an not spread among more vulner- Last week the United Nations Islamic State (IS) terror cell that Maximum life: This court sketch made on Wednesday shows main defendant Salah Abdeslam drawn able groups, such as children. health agency convened an emer- killed 130 people in Paris in No- over a general view of the courtroom during the trial of the Nov. 13, 2015 Paris terror attacks. gency committee of experts to vember 2015 was handed a whole- Fighting the virus requires decide if monkeypox constitutes life sentence on Wednesday at the er,” he said. mediately claimed from Syria by Other culprits “intense” efforts, said the WHO, a so-called Public Health Emer- end of a trial that aimed to draw a His lawyers had also argued the IS group. In the absence of the rest of the calling for broad data collection gency of International Concern line under the worst peace-time and sharing on how well vaccines (PHEIC), the highest alarm that atrocity in modern French history. against the whole-life sentence, The attacks shocked France, attackers, the men on trial besides work against the virus. the WHO can sound. which prosecutors had demanded. with the choice of targets and the Abdeslam were suspected of of- Salah Abdeslam, a 32-year-old manner of the violence seeming- fering mostly logistical support or Experts have detected a surge But a majority found the situ- Frenchman of Moroccan origin, It offers only a small chance ly designed to inflict maximum plotting other attacks. of monkeypox cases since early ation had not yet crossed that was captured alive by police four of parole after 30 years and has fear, just 10 months after a sepa- May outside of the West and Cen- threshold. months after the bloodbath at the been pronounced only four times rate assault on the Charlie Hebdo Only 14 out of the 20 appeared tral African countries where the Bataclan concert hall and other previously since being created in magazine. in person, with the rest missing, disease has long been endemic. Nonetheless, “they acknowl- locations. 1994. presumed dead. Most of the new cases have been edged the emergency nature of In one instance, the court in western Europe. the event and that controlling the His sentence, the toughest pos- Abdeslam, a one-time pot- heard a recording of gunmen One of them, Mohamed Abrini, further spread requires intense sible, was read out by the head of smoking lover of parties, discard- taunting people trapped in the admitted to driving some of the “I am concerned about sus- response efforts”, Tedros said. a five-judge panel overseeing the ed his suicide belt on the night Bataclan as they fired on them Paris attackers to the capital and tained transmission because it trial of 20 men accused of involve- of the attack and fled back to his with Kalashnikov machine guns explained how he was meant to would suggest that the virus is es- Sharing vaccine stockpiles ment in the assault on the capital. hometown, Brussels, where many from a balcony above. take part but backed out. tablishing itself and it could move The WHO chief called for equi- of the extremists lived. into high-risk groups including Wearing a khaki-colored polo The huge loss of life marked the The court handed him a life children, the immunocompro- table access to countermeasures shirt, he stood motionless and He told the court that he had start of a gruesome and violent sentence with 22 years as a mini- mised and pregnant women,” like vaccines and antivirals and showed no emotion as he was de- had a change of heart and decided period in Europe as IS ramped up mum term. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom the systematic collection of clini- clared guilty and sentenced by not to kill people. attacks across the continent. Ghebreyesus told reporters. cal data to inform future recom- chief judge Louis Peries during an Also on trial was Swedish citi- mendations. hour-long speech. “I changed my mind out of hu- France, under then-president zen Osama Krayem, who has been “We are starting to see this, manity, not out of fear,” he insisted. Francois Hollande, declared the identified in a notorious IS video with several children already in- WHO emergencies director “The sentences are quite country “at war” with the extrem- showing a Jordanian pilot being fected.” Michael Ryan said that countries heavy,” one tearful survivor, So- But after hearing that his sui- ists and their self-proclaimed ca- burned alive in a cage. with stockpiles of vaccines, led by phie, said as she left the court in cide belt was defective, the judg- liphate in Syria and Iraq. There are two cases aged under the US, had shown willingness to central Paris. es concluded that this “cast se- He was sentenced to 30 years 18 in Britain. share them. rious doubt” on his apparent Hollande, who testified in No- in jail and ordered to serve two- “I feel a lot of relief. Ten “renunciation”. vember, called the trial “excep- thirds of it behind bars, as was WHO chief scientist Soumya However, the vaccines have months of hearings — it’s helped tional” and “exemplary”, adding fellow jihadist Sofian Ayari, a Tu- Swaminathan called for “very largely only been licensed for use us to rebuild.” They ruled he was a “coauthor” in a statement that the accused nisian arrested along with Ab- careful studies of the vaccine in against monkeypox’s far more of the attacks which “constituted had been “judged with respect for deslam in Brussels in March 2015. different population groups [...] so severe relative smallpox, which The trial has been the biggest in a single crime scene”. the law”. that we get data that’s broadly ap- is also caused by an orthopoxvi- modern French history, the culmi- The pair were suspected of plicable, and also to ensure that rus and which is the only disease nation of a six-year international Trauma The 10-month process had “en- planning an attack on an Amster- children, pregnant women and the successfully eradicated through investigation whose findings run A team of 10 jihadists laid siege abled us to look for the truth in or- dam airport. immunosuppressed are consid- vaccination. to more than a million pages. der to better understand the course ered for inclusion in these trials”. to the French capital, attacking of Islamist terrorism”, he said. All of the convicted are able “It’s really important as we The other 19 suspects, accused the national sports stadium, bars to appeal their verdicts and sen- As of June 22 this year, 3,413 labo- encourage the sharing of these of either plotting or offering lo- and the Bataclan in an assault im- tences. ratory-confirmed monkeypox cases products that we also collect the gistical support, were also found and one death have been reported to necessary clinical efficacy data,” guilty, with their sentences rang- the WHO, from 50 countries. said Ryan. ing from two years to life in prison. The countries with three-figure He said the chief intervention All of the attackers except for case numbers are Britain (793), in controlling monkeypox should Abdeslam blew themselves up or Germany (521), Spain (520), Por- be reducing transmission through were killed by police during or af- tugal (317), France (277), Canada education and taking steps to avoid ter the assault. (210), the Netherlands (167) and infection, and then targeted use of the United States (142). available vaccines and antivirals. Hundreds of victims and wit- nesses packed out the benches Sea celebration of the specially constructed courtroom as the sentences were AFP/Ernesto Benavides read out. The image of Saint Peter, patron saint of fishermen, is carried on a “My first reaction is that we boat during a procession in Lima on Wednesday. Peruvian fishermen have the feeling of turning a page took a break from their daily work this Wednesday to honor their pa- after the verdicts,” Gerard Chem- tron saint, San Pedro, in a colorful celebration at sea. la, a lawyer representing victims at the trial, told reporters. Change of heart? Abdeslam had begun his ap- pearances last September by defi- antly declaring himself as an “Is- lamic State fighter” but finished tearfully apologizing to victims and asking for leniency. In his final statement, he urged the judges not to give him a full-life term, seeking to emphasize that he had not killed anyone himself. “I made mistakes, it’s true. But I’m not a murderer, I’m not a kill- Journalist murdered Texans mourn dozens of migrants in Mexico, 12th this year who died in sweltering truck tragedy Agence France-Presse la Cruz as “a family man, a good Gerard Martinez hydration and heatstroke after immigrant. after attempting to abscond”. man” who had sought to expose they were shut inside the trailer “You put yourself a little bit in He was also spotted on surveil- Ciudad Victoria, Mexico alleged corruption by local au- Agence France-Presse/San Antonio, with no water during a day when A Mexican reporter was shot thorities. United States ambient temperatures rose to 103 their place [...] because you also lance footage driving the truck at dead on Wednesday in the vio- Texas residents gathered under degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees lived through it,” he said. an immigration checkpoint, the lence-plagued northeastern state “The main suspects are in the a scorching sun Wednesday to Celsius). statement said, adding that he of Tamaulipas — the 12th journal- state government [...] I have not mourn the 53 migrants who died According to Francisco Gar- has been charged with one count ist killed so far in a particularly the slightest doubt that a signifi- this week after they were aban- Eleven others are still being duno, head of Mexico’s National of alien smuggling resulting in bloody year for the country’s press. cant responsibility falls on these doned in a trailer in soaring tem- treated in local hospitals, authori- Migration Institute, the dead in- death, and faces life in prison or men,” he said. peratures, leaving tokens of flow- ties said. cluded 27 Mexicans, 14 Hondu- execution if convicted. Antonio de la Cruz, who worked ers, candles and bottles of water. rans, seven Guatemalans and two for the newspaper Expreso, had Media-rights group Report- “All of this breaks my heart be- Salvadorans. Garduno said the suspected frequently denounced alleged acts ers Without Borders urged au- The mourners, several of cause I have family who have been driver had initially pretended to of corruption by politicians in his thorities to carry out “a prompt whom said they or their loved through the same thing,” said Ve- The nationalities of the other be one of the survivors. posts on social media. investigation” into the murder ones had also migrated to the ronica Vazquez, 37. three were not yet revealed. and whether it was linked to De la United States illegally, gathered High on meth? His wife and daughter were in- Cruz’s journalistic work. at the site in San Antonio where “All my cousins, my uncles, Four men have been arrested The local daily San Antonio Ex- jured in the attack, which took the truck was found on Monday came to the US illegally, some and charged over the incident so place as the reporter was leaving The Tamaulipas prosecutor’s to erect large wooden crosses and over the river and others through far, according to a statement from press-News reported the man was his home in Ciudad Victoria. office confirmed the murder and pay their respects. the desert,” she said. the district attorney’s office of “very high on meth”, citing a law- said that it was investigating the western Texas. enforcement officer. “We must not allow more at- case under protocols for dealing Immigration authorities have Roberto Alvarez, who lives in the tacks on journalists and activists. with crimes against freedom of said 53 people died, many of de- area, brought roses and candles. The office said a 45-year-old Federal law-enforcement These crimes will not go unpun- expression. named Homero Zamorano had agents arrested two other men on ished,” President Andres Manuel The 48-year-old himself came been arrested at the scene, where Tuesday at the address linked to Lopez Obrador’s spokesman, Je- More than 150 journalists have to the US as an undocumented he was spotted “hiding in the brush the tractor-trailer’s registration, sus Ramirez, tweeted. been murdered since 2000 in court documents showed. Mexico, one of the world’s most AFP/Chandan Khanna Expreso demanded “justice dangerous countries for the me- Juan Francisco D’Luna-Bilbao from authorities at all levels”. dia, with only a fraction of the Tribute to tragedy: People place flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial where a tractor-trailer and Juan Claudio D’Luna-Men- crimes resulting in convictions. was discovered with migrants inside, outside San Antonio, Texas, the United States, on Wednesday. The dez, both Mexican nationals who In 2018, another one of the number of migrants who died after they were abandoned in the swelteringly hot trailer rose to 53 overstayed US tourist visas, were newspaper’s journalists, Hector The United States and the Eu- on Wednesday, US immigration authorities said. charged with illegal possession of Gonzalez, was beaten to death. ropean Parliament have urged multiple firearms, the documents Mexico to ensure adequate pro- alleged. They face up to 10 years This year is already one of the tection for journalists following in prison. deadliest yet for the Mexican the recent string of killings. press, prompting calls for an end The fourth man, Christian to a culture of impunity. Lopez Obrador has vowed Martinez, was arrested in eastern “zero impunity” for the crimes. Texas on Tuesday, the district at- “The prevailing impunity in torney’s statement said. the murders of journalists has Before de la Cruz’s murder, the become an effective weapon for government had considered that He was charged with one count criminals,” said Jorge Canahuati, nine of this year’s victims were of conspiracy to transport illegal president of the Inter American killed because of their media work. aliens resulting in death, and also Press Association. faces life in prison or potentially It has reported the detention the death penalty, it said. Doctors were fighting to save of 26 suspects in the murders, the life of De la Cruz’s daughter, nine of whom have been formally Officials from Mexico, Guate- state Governor Francisco Cabe- charged. mala and Honduras, who met at za de Vaca said, urging prosecu- Mexico’s embassy in Washington, tors to ensure “that this cowardly Tamaulipas is one of the Mex- issued a joint statement in which crime does not go unpunished”. ican states most affected by vi- they pledged to help the victims olence involving drug cartels, and their families. ‘Family man’ which have repeatedly tried to De la Cruz, who had been a silence the press with attacks, ac- They said that they would form cording to rights groups. a rapid action group to target and journalist for 15 years, was also a dismantle human-trafficking net- spokesman for a political party, In 2012 a car bomb exploded works. Movimiento Ciudadano. in front of Expreso’s offices, al- though nobody was injured. In Gustavo Cardenas, a state leg- 2018, a human head was left out- islator for the party, described de side its offices.

10 FRIDAY July 1, 2022 SPORTS Sweet 16 for High velocity Djokovic as Murray exits Wimbledon tFoorImsneerr winorsledconnudm-rboeurnodncelalsohses Dave James Tallon Griekspoor of the Nether- Reuters/Marton Monus lands, 6-4, 7-6 (7/0), 6-3. Agence France-Presse/London Italy's Chiara Pellacani (left) and Matteo Santoro spin through the air during the mixed 3-meter synchronized diving final of the FINA World Defending champion Novak The flamboyant Spanish shot- Championships at Duna Arena in Budapest on Wednesday. Djokovic reached the Wimble- maker goes on to face Germany’s don third round for the 16th time Oscar Otte for a place in the last 16. Verstappen returns to crash scene chasing first British GP win on Wednesday as career-long ri- val Andy Murray suffered his Otte needed just 15 minutes Tim Collings winless sequence in his Formula “Hopefully we can be compet- on 111 followed by Sainz, 102, and earliest-ever exit from the All to reach the third round when One career. itive and gain some form of re- Hamilton, 77. England Club. American opponent Christian Agence France-Presse/Silverstone, demption for last year,” said Red Harrison retired injured at 3-1 United Kingdom Despite the shortcomings of Bull team chief Christian Horner. Mercedes has promised “some Top seed Djokovic brushed down in their second-round tie. One year on from a painful crash, his capricious bouncing Mer- new bits” for its cars at its “home” aside 79th-ranked Thanasi Kok- Max Verstappen returns to Silver- cedes, Hamilton finished third Verstappen may not have won race and, after nine top-five fin- kinakis of Australia 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 Alcaraz’s compatriot  Alejan- stone as clear favorite to register in Canada two weekends ago. a British Grand Prix, but he won ishes, Russell should not be over- and will face Serbian compatriot dro Davidovich Fokina suffered a his first British Grand Prix win and On Sunday, Hamilton will have a the “Anniversary” event held at looked as a contender. Miomir Kecmanovic for a last-16 controversial exit at the hands of increase his lead in the title race. partisan crowd, expected to top Silverstone in 2020 and last year’s place. Jiri Vesely. 140,000 behind him. sprint race.  On a normal race weekend, The 24-year-old Dutchman Hamilton would always attract “I’m very happy with my per- At match point down in the fi- and his Red Bull team are on the In last year’s contest, the pair Calmer and more calculating great interest, but at Silverstone formance. I started very well, nal set tie-break, Davidovich Fo- crest of a wave after six consecu- tangled on the opening lap in a than early in his career, he will try that is magnified, especially after solid from the back of the court,” kina hit a ball out of the court, was tive victories — one from team- controversial and spectacular to avoid further trouble and win comments made by three-time said Djokovic, who is looking to penalized a point and lost the tie. mate Sergio Perez in Monaco and collision that stoked ill-feeling without fuss. champion Nelson Piquet were re- join Pete Sampras as a seven-time the rest by the world champion. between them, and their teams, in ported this week, resulting in an Wimbledon champion. “I don’t agree with it. That’s a season that ended with the acri- His team’s main challenge this apology from the Brazilian amid crazy [...] what a lousy way to end But he may be wary of home monious finale in Abu Dhabi.   weekend is likely to come from claims of racism. “I made him work for every it,” US tennis great John McEn- hero and seven-time champion Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Car- point and worked him around the roe told ESPN. Lewis Hamilton mounting more After crashing at Silverstone, los Sainz, who were faster in Mon- Hamilton also remains em- court,” added the 20-time major of a challenge at the open and high- Verstappen was taken to hospital treal but unable to make it pay. broiled in a row over the sport’s winner. In the women’s tournament, speed track in central England. with severe bruising as Hamilton newly enforced “bling ban” and second seed Anett Kontaveit, raced on to claim a record eighth Leclerc, who has 126 points af- has to remove a nose stud ahead Kokkinakis had likened ninth seed and former champion After 10 races without a win, home triumph. Red Bull com- ter nine of this year’s 22 races, is of this weekend’s race when an Djokovic to a “brick wall” before Garbine Muguruza, as well as 10th the 37-year-old Mercedes driv- plained that his post-race cele- third behind Verstappen on 175 extended special exemption ex- the match. seed US Open winner Emma Ra- er is seeking to avoid the longest brations were unsporting. and Perez on 129. pires on Thursday. ducanu all exited. “It was one-way traffic. I got Mercedes’ George Russell is chopped today,” said the 26-year- Kontaveit lost 6-4, 6-0 to Ger- old Australian after his Center many’s Julie Niemeier as the Es- Copenhagen cycling fans give Court torment. tonian endured another Grand Tour de France a rapturous reception Slam to forget. Former world number one Damian Mccall AFP/Marco Bertorello to race from the front. Murray, the 2013 and 2016 cham- Kontaveit has made the quar- “Surviving sounds like we are pion, went down 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 terfinals of a major just once in 29 Agence France-Presse/Copenhagen Warm reception: Spectators cheer AG2R Citroen Team riders as (3/7), 6-4 to big-serving John Is- attempts. Raucous crowds at the Copenha- they cycle to attend the presentation of cycling teams two days not sleeping at night because we ner in his second-round clash. gen Tivoli theme park gave the ahead of the first stage of the 109th edition of the Tour de France in are afraid of the first week.” Muguruza, the 2017 champi- Tour de France the kind of recep- Copenhagen on Wednesday. Murray, now 52 in the rank- on, lost her delayed first-round tion organizers could only have “In the best scenario, both of ings, failed to break serve once clash 6-4, 6-0 to Belgium’s Greet dreamed of on Wednesday. them are better than Pogacar,” he against 2018 semifinalist Isner, Minnen. added. who unleashed 36 aces and 82 The loudest cheers were for Dan- winners in total. Raducanu, bidding to become ish riders such as Jonas Vingegaard “It’s not a secret that Pogacar is the United Kingdom’s first female and for the biggest names led by the big favorite. We need everybody “He didn’t give me lots of champion at the All England Club champion Tadej Pogacar. to be at his top level and we defi- chances,” said Murray, whose in 45 years, was beaten 6-3, 6-3 nitely need a two-leader strategy.” previous earliest exits came in the by France’s 55th-ranked Caroline Staff at the park said only rock third round in 2005 and 2021. Garcia. stars had attracted such crowds Ineos underdog before. The once-mighty Ineos team “My game was in a good place. “I really enjoyed playing on I felt good on the court, just Centre Court, it was my first Pogacar, who rides for UAE last won the race with Egan Ber- couldn’t get the win.” time and very special,” said Gar- Team Emirates’, said he was ex- nal three years ago. cia, who fired 25 winners past the cited too. Isner, 37, was gracious in the British teenager. On Wednesday, 2018 champion aftermath of his first win in nine “As a team we are ready, and Geraint Thomas said he was more meetings against the Briton. There were no such dramas for me and as an individual I’m ready of a chaperone to Dani Martinez third seed Ons Jabeur or fifth seed too, so I can’t wait to start of Fri- of Colombia and British rider “I am most definitely not a bet- Maria Sakkari, who went through day with the time trial,” the Slove- Adam Yates as they chased Poga- ter tennis player than Andy Mur- to the last 32 in straight sets. nian said. car and Jumbo. ray. I might have been a little bit better than him today,” said the ‘Amazing support’ Denmark’ Crown Prince Fred- “It is going to be hard to beat American. Lesia Tsurenko came out on erick attended the official unveil- them, but the vibe in the team is as ing of the teams, two days before good as ever, we have some good Isner also took his career aces top in three sets over Ukrainian the 21-day Tour opens with a guys, there’s a good atmosphere total to 13,724 to sit just four compatriot Anhelina Kalinina to 13-kilometer time-trial, the first and we are looking forward to get- behind the record held by Ivo make the third round for the sec- of three stages in Denmark. ting stuck in,” said Thomas, who Karlovic. ond time. promised an aggressive race. Tivoli Park has around 25 fair- Third seed and French Open Tsurenko, ranked at 101, ground rides. On Wednesday the “Adam and Dani are the lead- runner-up Casper Ruud, who was proudly wore a ribbon in the col- 176 cyclists added one, riding ers of the team, and I want to help scheduled to face Djokovic in the ors of Ukraine on her shirt. round a special 1 km track to be them, so I’ll be swearing at them semi-finals, was knocked out by greeted by thousands of smiling, at 60 km per hour in the wind, and 112th-ranked Ugo Humbert, 3-6, “It was a big court. Two Ukrai- cheering and filming fans. I’m going to enjoy that.” 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. nian players but a lot of people were watching us. We felt amaz- “I feel great, especially today Yates has just recovered from ‘Crazy’ end ing support,” said Tsurenko after with all these people in Copenha- COVID-19 but was looking re- But Spanish teenager Carlos her 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. gen, you can only be happy,” said laxed and happy. Pogacar. Alcaraz stayed on course to meet “Today on the way from hotel “It’ll be every man for himself,” the six-time champion in the last to the club, we got a driver,” she Best rider or strongest team Yates said. eight by reaching the third round added. Title challengers Primoz Ro- for the first time. “Me and Poggo had some good “She has taken two people from battles. I just hope to be at my Alcaraz, just 19, triumphed over Ukraine into her house. best.” “I think it’s amazing when peo- ple help Ukrainians so much.” AFP/Sebastien Bozon glic and Vingegaard, both of Jum- als around, the whole team gets bo Visma, said they believed their stronger,” said the 32-year-old Signing out: The United Kingdom’s Andy Murray (right) shakes team’s two-leader strategy could triple Vuelta a Espana winner. hands with United States player John Isner after their men's singles finally deliver cycling’s most trea- tennis match on the third day of the Wimbledon Championships at sured prize. Vingegaard said he and Roglic the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, on Wednesday. enjoyed going for a beer together. Murray lost the match 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (3/7), 6-4. Roglic, a Slovenian, came second in 2020 and Vingegaard in  2021, “Primoz and I are good friends both times behind Pogacar. also out of bike racing,” said the 25-year-old, a former fish-factory “As long as we work together, worker from the small commu- doing as good as possible togeth- nity of Hillerslev on Denmark’s er, we believe that we can beat North Sea coast. him,” Roglic said. Both Roglic and Vingegaard Roglic pulled out in week one talked of surviving the first week. last year after a fall and on Wednes- Team boss Merijn Zeeman reject- day denied feeling threatened by ed the notion. his junior partner Vingegaard, who shone in his absence. “I don’t like the term ‘surviv- ing’ because we are not afraid. We “We make each other stronger. stay on the bike and stay up front,” When you have strong individu- Zeeman said of Jumbo’s tendency Piquet apologizes to Hamilton for ‘ill-thought-out’ comment SCOREBOARD Basketball ST. LOUIS 5 Miami 3 Reuters ‘person’ and was never intended Hamilton, the most successful driv- faced as the drivers prepare to re- WNBA Cincinnati 5 CHICAGO CUBS 3 to offend,” he said. er in the history of the sport, called turn to Silverstone. Brazil’s triple Formula One cham- for action on Tuesday to change “ar- Results from the WNBA games on Tuesday Texas 8 KANSAS CITY 3 pion Nelson Piquet apologized to “I would never use the word I chaic mindsets” after Piquet’s com- Hamilton, who was recently Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday have been accused of in some trans- ments triggered a media storm and awarded honorary Brazilian citizen- (home team in CAPS) COLORADO 7 LA Dodgers 4 after a video emerged of him us- lations. I strongly condemn any drew widespread condemnation. ship, is the sport’s only Black driver. ing an apparent racial slur in Por- suggestion that the word was used WASHINGTON 92 Atlanta 74 Chicago White Sox 11 LA ANGELS 4 tuguese when referring to the by me with the aim of belittling a Formula One sources have in- “It’s more than language. These Mercedes driver. driver because of his skin color. dicated that Piquet, who rarely at- archaic mindsets need to change MINNESOTA 92 Dallas 64 ARIZONA 7 San Diego 6 tends Grands Prix, would no longer and have no place in our sport,” Piquet, 69, insisted in a state- “I apologize wholeheartedly be welcome inside the paddock. the Mercedes driver said. CHICAGO 91 Connecticut 83 SAN FRANCISCO 4 Detroit 3 ment, however, that the “ill to anyone that was affected, in- thought out” comment made last cluding Lewis, who is an incred- Piquet had been commenting “I’ve been surrounded by these SEATTLE 88 Las Vegas 78 SEATTLE 2 Baltimore 0 November had been mistranslat- ible driver, but the translation in on Hamilton’s British Grand Prix attitudes and targeted my whole ed into English. some media that is now circulat- crash with Max Verstappen a year life. There has been plenty of time PHOENIX 99 Indiana 78 Milwaukee 5 TAMPA BAY 3 ing on social media is not correct. ago, with the Brazilian saying the to learn. Time has come for action.” “The term used is one that has Briton had “played dirty”. NY YANKEES 5 Oakland 3 widely and historically been used “Discrimination has no place Motor racing’s governing body colloquially in Brazilian Portu- in F1 or society, and I am happy to Piquet’s daughter Kelly is FIA, Formula One and Mercedes Baseball Pittsburgh 8 WASHINGTON 7 guese as a synonym for ‘guy’ or clarify my thoughts in that respect.” world champion Verstappen’s have all issued statements con- partner, and the comments resur- demning racism but without MLB Houston 2 NY METS 0 Seven-time world champion mentioning Piquet by name. Results from the MLB games on Tuesday KANSAS CITY 2 Texas 1 (home team in CAPS) San Diego 4 ARIZONA 0 CLEVELAND 3 Minnesota 2 Detroit 3 SAN FRANCISCO 2 1 3 SEATTLE 9 Baltimore 3 1 NY YANKEES 2 Oakland 5 Atlanta 4 PHILADELPHIA 1 0 Atlanta 5 PHILADELPHIA 1 Boston 6 TORONTO 5 3 WASHINGTON 3 Pittsburgh CLEVELAND 7 Minnesota 6 TORONTO 6 Boston Miami 4 ST. LOUIS 3 Minnesota 6 CLEVELAND CHICAGO CUBS 8 Cincinnati 3 Houston 9 NY METS LA Dodgers 8 COLORADO 4 Milwaukee 5 TAMPA BAY LA ANGELS 4 Chicago White Sox 1

FEATURES 11FRIDAY July 1, 2022 Fusion power: Rawon TORIBRO ramen is one of TORIBRO’s signature dishes. DEFIES BAR STEREOTYPE BY WHISKING FUN COCKTAILS RO WITH ‘OTAKU’ JOY TORIBRO TORIBRO delivers a colorful nightlife the owners of this bar consist of 10 Comic relief: TORIBRO’s signature Otaku club: TORIBRO is located in opens experience for pub-crawlers who people and we’re all guys.” drinks include, but are not limited the Little Osaka Food Town (LOFT) are tired of the ‘otaku’ and ‘wibu’ to, the cocktail Shoryuken! and the compound, Fatmawati, South Jakarta. every day, stereotypes. The proprietors of TORIBRO had mocktail lemillion. including understood very well that, despite that “our food cannot be found any- on public Felix Martua the given business opportunity, un- make strong kicks at the beginning, where else — first and foremost”, he holidays, dertaking a venture with close pals the path before you is certainly un- asserted. from 12 p.m. Contributor/Jakarta could potentially harm their friend- troubled,” Mario analogized. to midnight. By taking a single step into TORIBRO alone, any patron im- ship. On top of the awkwardness, Moreover, he highlighted that au- For more mediately discovers that the bar owners really love Japanese some of the proprietors had no prior In establishing a rapport with the thenticity was vital in designing a details, pop culture. experience in entrepreneurship. To patrons, the proprietors and the staff menu that would prove successful. including dispel such concern, Ekanda, in par- deliberately went for “somewhere in reservations, Case in point, once a patron opens the sliding entrance ticular, decided to ask for advice from between — we’re not aloof, but we’re “Take rawon, for instance. It seems check out its door, they are immediately greeted by a large, framed post- a certain confidant. not being too ‘matey’”, said Mario, so difficult to find good rawon — like Instagram er of Japanese gothic metal band Dir En Grey. As they ex- the goal of which was to create a “con- the one cooked by my mother — in @toribro.bar plore the bar’s interiors, they find more Japanese pop culture “My father encouraged me. Run- genial” vibe without coming across as Jakarta,” he added. adornments, including a flat screen that, instead of playing ning a business with one’s friends can “annoying” to the patrons. Fighting dreamers: smooth jazz music typical of most nightlife spots in Jakarta, indeed get ugly. If the business falls Another distinct element of the TORIBRO’s plays Japanese pop music and anime soundtrack of the pa- apart, so will everything else. Still, Ekanda described the food menu menu is how the names of most of key players are tron’s choosing. It completely caters to its otaku target mar- why are you afraid? Do you have no of TORIBRO as a fusion between the dishes and drinks on the menu cofounder Ekanda ket: those who are deeply into Japanese pop culture. faith in your friendship?” Ekanda traditional Japanese cuisine and the are references to Japanese pop cul- Susaptyo Hidayat asked, rhetorically. more rustic, Indonesian cuisine. He ture. Have they ever worried that the (left), operation “Everyone is welcome to this bar, actually. Nonetheless, this personally took pride in the bar’s sig- names might turn off first-time cus- manager Sinta bar is warm to people who have a massive love for J-pop. You Fortunately, the proprietors of nature dish rawon ramen, which is a tomers? Amalia and won’t feel out of place if you play Naruto soundtrack here,” TORIBRO came with their respec- traditional Japanese ramen noodle cofounder FX Mario quipped Ekanda Susaptyo Hidayat, 30, one of the co-founders tive sets of skills. Ekanda com- combined with East Java-style ra- “The way I see it, those names will (right). of TORIBRO during The Jakarta Post’s visit on June 13. mended Mario’s “business instinct” won broth. Another signature dish of end up cringe-y if the food is not deli- whereas Mario gave props to Ekan- TORIBRO’s is soto udon, a tradition- cious,” Ekanda answered. His fellow cofounder, FX Mario, 42, chimed in: “This is a da’s “diligence”, especially as the lat- al Japanese udon noodle paired with safe place for wibu [a slang term for people who are obsessed ter started taking charge of the bar’s Madura-style soto broth. Mario offered a similar sentiment: with Japanese culture, especially anime]. No one will judge menu and choice of cuisine. “People will diss you if the food is you. Just enjoy yourself. We offer good food, we offer good If the bar patrons are in the mood bad. But, if the food is good and the drinks. People usually come here for the food, but they stay “I wouldn’t have the energy to for a more conventional dish, TORI- price is fair, people will embrace it.” for the drinks.” come up with the menu and super- BRO also fixes plates such as tori cha- vise the miscellaneous stuff. Ekanda zuke — a classic Japanese dish made TORIBRO’s signature cocktails Located in the Little Osaka Food Town (LOFT) compound is the one who deals with the menu by pouring green tea over cooked rice were mostly designed and concocted in the Fatmawati area, South Jakarta, TORIBRO is keen on and the food,” added Mario. — and sweets such as dango and mochi. by Mario. For the first-time patrons, offering a leisure and nightlife experience unlike most estab- The bar’s signature grilled skewers, Su- he personally recommended the lishments in the city. Combining the quirky and the inebriat- The proprietors of TORIBRO de- kuna’s fingers — a reference to Jujutsu bar’s Shoryuken! which consists of ing, TORIBRO is built and run by a group of close-knit bud- cided to, more or less, incorporate a Kaisen. a popular Japanese anime and gin, vodka and apple juice. The name dies who understand very well that pubs can reach market concept similar to Tori Bar Fatmawa- manga franchise — are suitable for pa- of the cocktail is a reference to the segments beyond the hard-partying yuppies. ti’s — insofar as the bar is heavily dec- trons looking for some meaty delights. Japanese video game franchise Street orated with references to Japanese Fighter. For patrons who might pre- ‘Shōnen’ shindig pop culture which includes, but is not Looking back, Ekanda’s goal for fer a sober evening, the bar’s signa- Ekanda, Mario and their pals had the idea of opening a bar limited to, anime, manga and video the bar’s food menu was to ensure ture mocktail lemillion — a non-al- games. That said, Ekanda acknowl- coholic concoction of lime, lemon when they started spending their off-time at Tori Bar Fat- edged that it took more than quirky basil and lemongrass — might suit mawati, another Japanese culture-inspired pub that is also decorations to draw customers to their palate instead. The name of the located in the LOFT compound. To boot, the owner of the TORIBRO. He decided to pitch an- mocktail is a reference to the Japa- pub happens to be a close friend of both Mario’s and Ekanda’s. other idea to his fellow proprietors. nese manga and anime franchise My One day, the publican offered the latter a vacant space across Hero Academia. from his pub in case they were interested in launching their “If we incorporate the exact same own establishment. concept, we wouldn’t have any value Bovie, a 33-year-old private sector and they would end up beating us. employee and a regular patron at TO- Taking up the offer was a no-brainer for Mario and Ekan- That’s why I suggested we offer fu- RIBRO, applauded how the menu of da; so was the name of their future cantina. sion cuisine, we come up with our the bar manages to keep up with its own cocktails and we work on our outlandish atmosphere. “We are like Tori Bar’s little brother, so that’s why we brand so that we could endear our- named it TORIBRO,” selves more to [fans of Japanese pop “Number one is the anime vibe of Mario said, chuck- culture],” Ekanda explained. the bar. Number two, after frequent- ling. ing this place, turns out, the food is “That, and also, The concept of TORIBRO might pretty good. Usually, not all bars with seem alien to the layman, but in the this vibe offer decent food, but in this eyes of its proprietors, they were case, they match — you can enjoy the convinced that the offbeat concept Japanese music and the food is great would reach an untapped market for your hangout,” he opined. segment that had never crossed the minds of most barkeepers and publi- — PHOTOS BY JP/FELIX MARTUA cans in Jakarta. Ekanda added, “It seems like there are lots of people out there who love Japanese culture, but such love is yet to be somewhat accommodated. I mean, where else can you play [Japanese pop music and anime soundtrack] in a bar? There’s no way you can play songs like these in a Senopati bar. That would be kind of out of place.” ‘Otaku’ saloon TORIBRO officially opened its doors to customers on Dec. 13, 2021 — a decision that, Ekanda and Mario concurred, was pretty bold consider- ing, at the time, the COVID-19 pan- demic was derailing most food-and- beverage establishments in Jakarta. Ultimately, the proprietors decided to apply a “now-or-never” state of mind. “It’s like when you swim — if you BALI EXPOSÉ LOCAL BEAT Green Initiatives from Hard Rock Hotel Group ONE Holdings inks deal Bali to celebrate 51st Founders Day with Media City Qatar In celebrating its 51st Founder’s Day, Hard Rock “Founders Day is a yearly celebration marking Group ONE Holdings in terms of viewership and quality in order to bring elite Hotel Bali, in collaboration with field workers the opening of the first Hard Rock Cafe five (ONE) and Media interaction. firms and foster a talented and band members, cleaned up Kuta Beach decades ago. We take this opportunity to City Qatar officially community of innovators. and planted mangroves to take part in preserving acknowledge the hard work of the local hero at announced their partnership They are also exploring the nature. Kuta Environmental and Cleanliness Service to on Wednesday at the Qatar possibility of establishing an Qatar’s media and creative keep the beach clean,”said Hard Rock Hotel Bali Economic Forum. e-sports center in the country to industries are among the fastest- Hard Rock Hotel Bali, along with 55 field from general manager Shane Coates. attract gaming developers and growing in the world and Media Kuta Environmental and Cleanliness Service The agreement states global IP content creators by City Qatar’s goal is to create (DLHK) and 25 band members from Hard Rock “The band members devote their time to help that both parties will make promoting Qatar’s infrastructure. a powerful and innovative Hotel were engaged in cleaning up Kuta Beach on improve our environment, living up to one of the a joint long-term effort ecosystem where exceptional the morning of June 14. brand’s mottos – ‘Save the Planet’,”he remarked. to create global content They are currently developing content can flourish by in Qatar across all media live sports programming, focused developing its regional media. The hotel management expressed their entities, including studio on improving Qatar’s production appreciation to the hard-working field workers productions and cutting- for demonstrating dedication and resilience in edge broadcasting. To mark maintaining the cleanliness of Kuta Beach for the occasion, Qatar will be years, even under the impact of COVID-19. featured in the second season of the Netflix award-winning Following the clean-up activity, Hard Rock series, The Apprentice: ONE Hotel Bali and about 25 band members from Championship Edition. the hotel participated in planting 75 seedlings of Rhizophora, also known as a red mangrove, in Already one of Asia’s largest Wanasari Mangrove Forest on June 16. global sports-media property in over 150 countries, the Mangroves have long been known for agreement will only broaden their extraordinary ability in storing organic ONE’s viewership. Prior to the carbon more than most other trees; this makes partnership, Nielsen ranks ONE mangroves one of the valuable assets in the fight as one of the top 10 sports against global warming. Mangroves can also media platforms in the world reduce shoreline erosion, thus protecting coastal communities against flooding and tsunamis.

12 FRIDAY July 1, 2022 FEATURES SURABAYA’S BEST MUSICAL STORYTELLERS ARE BACK Dynamic duo: Eki Trisnowering IN BUSINESS (left) and Kharis Junandharu have turned Silampukau from art school oddities to one of the country’s most beloved indie folk bands. Silampukau/Denny Hendrawan even the band’s most ardent fans off- guard. Kharis’ lyrics are more direct Since releasing its debut album in 2015, than usual — a sharp appeal to retain Silampukau has earned critical acclaim and mistrust of those in power and to not forgive failures and broken promises. commercial success. Now, after almost a “Kegagalan sering terpaksa di- decade in the wilderness, the duo return. maafkan demi fasad kestabilan [Failure is forcibly forgiven, to re- tain a facade of stability],” Eki sings, Raka Ibrahim mournfully. Silampukau/Denny Hendrawan “Pembenaran terus-menerus dis- Loyalty: Despite not releasing any music for six years, their acclaimed de- emburkan dari dubur kekuasaan [Ex- but album and relentless touring has earned them legions of devoted fans. cuses are constantly spewed, from Contributor/Denpasar the rectum of power].” “What they face out there is the “There are more stories like that With its lilting flutes, keroncong The good news is that Silampukau’s sardonic sense of humor has survived (Javanese folk music) style ukule- same misfortune and battered hopes to tell on the next album.” some of the most turbulent years of its career. The Surabaya-based duo re- le, and an undercurrent of anger in that others have on land. Surabaya, where both continue flects on a less-than-productive pandemic, full of half-baked creative ideas Eki’s calm vocal delivery, it was also a “Besides,” Kharis said, never hold- to live and work, has not changed conceived on a whim and abandoned just as quickly. musical sea change from their usual ing back from a quip. much since Dosa Kota Kenangan’s The two are sheepish with their excuses and, as ever, confused about the fare of comfortable vocal harmonies “Our republic consists mostly of release in 2015. The duo’s reflection future. and acoustic guitar interplay. water and trouble. So why do we have of the city’s sense of stagnation sees “But,” songwriter Kharis Junandharu quipped. “I cut my hair short again. “The whole process was quick,” more love songs than sea shanties?” them doing a roll call of their debut We survived the closest thing to doomsday, so there’s every reason to celebrate!” Eki said. Released last month, “Lantun album’s beloved characters. Since its inception in 2009, Silampukau has established itself as one of the “Two days after we finished mas- Mustahil” is a fresh expansion of “The red light district life depicted country’s most celebrated indie-folk bands — much to the duo’s personal con- tering it, we released it without their tried-and-tested sound. With in ‘Si Pelanggan’ is still around, though sternation. Fame and fortune do not necessarily sit well with the endlessly self- thinking too much.” its swinging beat, baroque pop-esque it is not as centralized as it used to be,” critical duo, but there are bigger crosses to bear. “There was no good day to release instrumentation, and uncharacter- Kharis said. After some false starts (the band released a well-received EP and was a regular something. Every day was fresh hell,” istically lush string arrangement, it “The traffic we talked about in on the touring circuit before abruptly quitting in 2010), their debut album Dosa Kharis quipped. sees Silampukau edging further into ‘Malam Jatuh di Surabaya’ is still the Kota Kenangan (2015) elevated them to unprecedented heights. “So we decided to just release the realm of the cinematic. same. We still have issues with forced Perhaps it is songwriting partner Eki Trisnowering’s sultry baritone, the pair’s something. No fanfare, no prepara- The single was also released as a evictions and land clearings, like we familiar and naughty country-tinged arrangement, or their relentless touring tion, no nothing.” binaural mix, lifting Eki’s baritone sang about in ‘Bola Raya’. From where that caught the heart of audiences. But what really sets them apart from their Finally putting out new material as he mournfully paints a picture of we stand, what we sang about back in peers at the time was their debut album’s bleak, honest, yet humorously poetic after six years sent Kharis into his a fisherman caught in a storm at sea. 2015 is still relevant.” retelling of Surabaya, Indonesia’s messy second city. usual tailspin of self-loathing. “Maut, berhentilah kau merayu They are painfully aware of the Each song on the album is a slice of life from a cast of street urchins and hustlers “I kept thinking, was I too reac- [Death, stop flirting with me],” he conflicting emotions that arise from — from the clothes-shop salesman who quotes Metallica lyrics to justify their failed tionary?” he asked. “But in times like sings. this stasis. On one hand, this means musical career in “Doa 1”, the illicit alcohol peddler in “Sang Juragan”, the forlorn these, there’s no place for satire!” “Semangatku masih cukup untuk that Surabaya’s cast of antiheroes is narrator who sees their lover off to France in hit single “Puan Kelana” to the sing- But his introspection finally paid bertahan hidup [I still have enough still readily available for them to un- along ditty “Si Pelanggan”, a homage to Surabaya’s infamous red light district, Dolly. off. spirit to stay alive].” cover, unpick and undress. It pro- It was a commercial and critical hit, earning them legions of devoted fans and “A friend said that during this pan- vides ample material for their long- even the odd television appearance. In 2019, VICE Indonesia dubbed Dosa Kota demic, we’re all weathering the same Stasis and future awaited second album – which the Kenangan one of the ten best Indonesian albums of that past decade, hailing it as storm, it’s just that we’re sailing on Kharis admits that “Dendang two aim to release by the end of the “a glorious musical poetry tribute to the city of Surabaya”. different boats,” Kharis said. Sangsi” and “Lantun Mustahil” were year. But on the other hand, does this What followed, though, was radio silence. “That got the dominoes falling.” one-off specials — there was no way mean Surabayans are stuck with the Though they were regular faces in Indonesia’s hippest music festivals and retained Like Eki before him, he also he would release an entire album of devils they know? a fiercely loyal following, six years passed without the release of new music, let alone turned to the past for inspiration. songs as “dramatically arranged” as “I’m not angry with this supposed their much-awaited sophomore album. Then, just as the pandemic crept to its peak “When I was young, I lived with “Lantun Mustahil”, he said. sense of stagnation,” Kharis insists. and the world seemed to have passed them by, Silampukau suddenly returned. my mother in Kenjeran – near the But thematically, “Lantun Musta- “Maybe we’re familiar with this condi- Surabayan coast and among kam- hil” and its vivid portrayal of the flip tion,anditbecomespartofourculture From reflex to reflection pung full of fishermen,” Kharis said. side of urban life is a good indication – despite its not-so-pretty excesses.” “We tinkered with many different ideas that we ended up scrapping, but when “Surabaya’s coasts are safe from of the next album’s feel. “Or,” Eki said, grinning. “Our en- I watched the news of the coup d’etat in Myanmar last year, it just clicked,” Kha- storms, but I remember sitting on “We only released ten songs on tire city is caught up in Stockholm ris said, referring to the military coup that deposed the democratic government the sidelines in the kampung’s cof- our first album and told ten stories,” Syndrome.” of Myanmar in February 2021. feehouses and eavesdropping on Kharis said. Kharis turned quickly to his song- “Around those months there was similar news of protests against the govern- their stories of the sea.” writing partner, laughing at Eki’s ment in Thailand, Colombia, everywhere.” The fishermen’s stories were a well-timed quip before the two start- A year of pandemic stagnation, Kharis observed, has finally pushed the world complex web of adventure, danger ed debating this newfound revela- over the edge. and misfortune. tion among themselves. Their cre- “Everybody was forced to be idle, and we saw that those in power were doing “Our image of the sea is a bit mysti- ative process is full of deviation and nothing as the emergency roared on,” Kharis continued. cal, glorious and beautiful, but I real- messy bursts of inspiration like this, “It was the same in Indonesia. At some point, the entire planet seemed to stop ized then that there are people whose he says. But, as they have discovered trusting its governments. We wanted to capture that feeling of discontent.” entire livelihood relied on the sea,” in their long-winded career, the jour- His songwriting partner was nurturing his own discontent. As live concerts — Kharis reflected. ney is always worth it. the lifeblood of most Indonesian musicians — continued to be curtailed and no respite appeared on the horizon, Eki retreated to familiar comforts. Silampukau/Denny Hendrawan “I revisited old [Indonesian] music like Lilis Suryani, Ellya Khadam and Syech Albar — tunes from the ‘50s and ‘60s I listened to as a child,” he revealed. “Maybe it was a reaction to all the chaos. I wanted to find refuge in old songs I used to know. I started to tinker with these old-school Arab and Malay-style melodies.” When the duo met in the studio after Surabaya’s lockdown restrictions were loosened, their mutual concerns merged. “Eki came in with this heavily dangdut [popular beat-heavy genre] inspired tune,” Kharis recalled. “Indonesian politicians also love to use dangdut in communicating to the mass- es — back in 2021, they were even campaigning against the annual Lebaran exodus with a dangdut song featuring all the big political leaders.” Using dangdut back against them was an opportunity too good to pass up. “It’s like exchanging pantun,” Kharis said, referring to the traditional Malay tradition of oral rhyming poetry, often used to extol or criticize those in power. “And as the late great Javanese singer Didi Kempot said, the best thing to do with discontent is turn it into dance.” Perspective: “Our country is mostly water Released in June last year, “Dendang Sangsi” was a surprise single that caught and trouble, so why do we have more love songs than sea shanties?” asks Kharis. Silampukau/Denny Hendrawan THIRTRON HOWARD REVISITS THAI CAVE RESCUE IN ‘THIRTEEN LIVES’ AFP/Michael Tran Paula Ramon together, incredible things can happen.” subject of the 2021 National Geograph- etaivanichkul to help the boys under- Thirteen Lives, which stars Joel ic documentary The Rescue, which fea- stand the mindset of those who were Agence France-Presse/Los Angeles, United States tured some never-before-seen footage trapped. The dramatic rescue in 2018 of 12 youth soccer players and Edgerton, Colin Farrell and Viggo obtained from the Thai military after their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand, a captivating Mortensen, retells the story of the two years of tough negotiations. “I asked them [...] imagine that you operation that was already revisited in an award-winning spectacular rescue of the 12 boys and are in a tight space, and imagine that you documentary, is now getting the big-screen dramatic treat- their coach who, in June 2018, found Howard attempted to delve even have a lack of food and water for a few themselves trapped in Tham Luang more into the personal drama and high- days already and you are unlikely to get ment from Ron Howard. cave for more than two weeks. light the work of those who volunteered out very soon,” Ruetaivanichkul said. Thirteen Lives hits North American theaters on July 29. to help, risking their own lives. The Oscar-winning Howard, who cast a mix of bank- Recreating the conditions of the in- ‘Burden but an honor’ tense incident was both physically and “It was this ongoing process of [...] Mortensen highlighted the “team- able stars and untested talent in the movie, says making psychologically challenging for the actors. creating the environment and the ef- the film was an “exciting challenge”. fort, and then attaching the humanity oriented effort” of making the film, Farrell, who plays British cave diver to it,” the director said. noting that it mirrored the relation- He called his latest film a “very extreme version of my fa- John Volanthen, said during a screen- ships between the real-life rescuers vorite kinds of films”. ing of the film’s trailer on Monday that it “There are all kinds of, many brands the actors were playing. was “terrifying” to film most of the time of, heroism that are demonstrated “You know, the kinds of films that prove that remarkable under water, even under expert supervi- through the movie.” For his part, Farrell spoke about the outcomes are not the stuff of fiction, that when people pull sion. It didn’t help that the Irish actor, by “responsibility to honor the lives that his own admission, “can’t really swim”. He also emphasized the need to ac- were passed and not just the spirit of Human touch: United States director Ron Howard, curately depict the local population in those who survived the rescue”, recall- pictured on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles, “It’s a different world beneath the Thailand’s northern province of Chiang ing that two people associated with the surface of the water,” said Farrell. Rai. The teens in the film were played by cave rescue had died. California, the US, reenvisions the dramatic actors from the area to maintain the au- rescue in 2018 of 12 youth soccer players “Water’s wet, no matter how much thenticity of the spoken language. “It was a burden but an honor, and and their coach from a flooded Thai cave control you have or don’t have.” we were really aware of it,” he said. in Thirteen Lives, scheduled for a July “It’s not just an accent, it’s also 29 North American release date. ‘Many brands of heroism’ phrasing,” said Howard, who worked Thirteen Lives is available for stream- The spectacular rescue is already the with coproducer Vorakorn “Billy” Ru- ing on Amazon Prime in August.