Durian. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered National Police Chief Gen. Idham Azis, Military Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and Chairperson of National Covid-19 Handling Task Force Lieut. Gen. Doni Munardo to take firm actions to disperse crowded, calling restrictions in any celebration event to prevent the massive spreading of the virus.
“Don’t just release government’s appeal, but it must be followed by concrete supervision and enforcement in the field,” the president said on Nov.16 in Jakarta.
His statement was made in the midst of public critics on last week mass gathering events related to the leader of the Islamic Defenders’ Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab who just returned home on Nov.10 after about three years of hiding in Saudi Arabia following some criminal offenses.
President Widodo said, public trust is important to make the control measures can be effectively run by the government.
The government of capital Jakarta did not ban at least three gathering activities related to Shihab since his arrival in Jakarta including a religious ceremony. The government provided thousands of masks.
“State omission over mass gathering that followed the arrival of Rizieq Shihab from Saudi Arabia …becomes paradox Jokowi and staffs’ political leadership in handling covid-19,” Hendardi of Setara Institute said on Nov.15, referring to President Widodo.
Jakarta government fined Shihab of Rp.50 million ($3,500) for the violation of covid-19 health protocol due to critics.
Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Nana Sudjana was removed from his post as of Nov.16 because failed to enforce covid-19 health protocol, National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Argo Yuwono said in Jakarta.
Besides Jakarta, violation of covid-19 health protocol has caused West Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi was also removed from his post on Nov.16, Yuwono said.
Meanwhile, President Widodo has explained on Nov.16 that disciplinary enforcement of health protocols must be done because no one currently has immunity to the corona virus and can infect others in the crowd.
“I want to emphasize that the safety of the people is the highest law. During this pandemic we have decided on social restrictions, including the dispersal of the crowd,” he said.
Indonesia has recorded 3,535 new confirmed cases as of Nov.16. The spike brought the total number to 470,648 cases. The figure was included 15,296 death cases.
