STRENGTHENING CYBER DEFENSE TO PROTECT INDONESIA'S SOVEREIGNTY by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 11,2017 (Antara) - In the current cyber era, cyber threats and attacks could affect sovereignty of a country; therefore, strengthening Indonesia's cyber defense is crucial to protect its national interests.

          Several government institutions, such as the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Defense Ministry, the Headquarters of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and the National Police (Polri), have, respectively, had independent cybersecurity unit.

        Cybersecurity has become a major issue, given the large number of internet users in Indonesia, which is around 132 million. In fact, Indonesia is viewed as having the potential to develop reliable cybersecurity mechanisms.

        In June 2017, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated a national cyber agency called National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN), which is expected to become operational soon.

        BSSN was launched following a global ransomware attack by the WannaCry virus, which affected more than 150 countries around the world, including Indonesia, in May this year.

         BSSN, which will function under the coordination of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, is expected to serve as an umbrella for all cybersecurity units to prevent overlapping and to strengthen coordination.

        Wiranto has said that the government would appoint a BSSN chief this October.

        "(The chief will be appointed) as soon as possible. I hope this month," he told the press after chairing a limited coordinating meeting on BSSN in Jakarta on Oct 4.

          The meeting was attended by Communication and Informatics Minister, Rudiantara, and State Apparatus' Empowerment and Bureaucracy Reform Minister, Asman Abnur, among others.

         Discussions on the agency's organizational structure have been completed, he stated.

JAKARTA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECT RESUMES AS MORATORIUM LIFTED by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 10, 2017 (Antara) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, on Oct 5 issued a Ministerial Decree No S-78-001/02/Coordinating Minister/Maritime/X/2017 to revoke a decree on moratorium of Jakarta Bay reclamation project issued in 2016 by his predecessor, Rizal Ramli.

        Pandjaitan sent a letter informing outgoing Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat that the moratorium was officially lifted as developers had fulfilled several requirements demanded by Ramli.

        The requirements included a revision to the Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal), taking into account technical designs for power plant pipes, sedimentation mitigation, and sailing routes for traditional fishermen.

        Pandjaitan's decree was issued just 10 days before the upcoming inauguration of Jakarta Governor-elect Anies Baswedan and his deputy, Sandiaga Uno, who during their regional head elections (pilkada) campaign had promised their constituents, particularly traditional fishermen, to cancel the reclamation project. 
   Pandjaitan, however, affirmed on Oct 9 that Baswedan cannot cancel the reclamation project in Jakarta Bay, because the project was under the central government's control.

        Following the revocation of the moratorium, projects of the C, D, and G Islands in North Jakarta Coast would resume.

        He explained that he had demanded the developer to find a solution for the undersea cable network of coal-based power plants (PLTU) in Muara Karang, which were affected by the project.

        "The interest of local fishermen has also been duly taken into consideration for carrying out the reclamation project. A channel has been provided for fishermen going out to or returning from the sea. Thank God, there is no injustice committed against fishermen. This is in line with the program of the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry to develop the port at Muara Baru into a modern fish market," Pandjaitan added.

PROMOTING SCIENCE TOURISM IN ACEH by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 10, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh offers unexplored natural beauty comprising rivers, mountains, and intact forests that are home to various rare and endangered animal species, such as orangutans, elephants, Sumatran rhinos, and tigers.

          The Mount Leuser National Park (TNGL), which is partly located in Aceh, is one of the world's most biodiverse and ancient ecosystems having countless biological treasures, including clouded leopards, hornbills, and giant flowers.     
     The TNGL along with two other national parks -- Kerinci Seblat and Bukit Barisan Selatan -- is part of the 2.5 million-hectare Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra site, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004.   
     Spread across 7,927 square kilometers, the TNGL is an ideal location for science tourism, a niche area within alternative forms of tourism, that shares specificity of learning, adventure, cultural, and experiential tourism.

          The protected area is home to an estimated 10 thousand plant species, including 17 endemic genera; more than 200 mammalian species; and some 580 bird species of which 465 are resident and 21 are endemic.

          Of the mammalian species, 22 are Asian, not found elsewhere in the archipelago and 15 are confined to the Indonesian region. The site also provides biogeographic evidence of the evolution of the island.    
     Several experts believe that linking science and tourism seems to meet the challenge of boosting socio-economic growth of the local communities and potentially improving the conservation of highly fragile ecosystems.

DO NOT HESITATE TO VISIT BALI, IT IS SAFE by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 6, 2017 (Antara) - Despite Mount Agung being active, it has not yet erupted, but news reports on it have deterred several foreign tourists.

           Tourism industry is the backbone of Bali's economy. Bali has set a target to attract 5.5 million foreign tourists this year.

           The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Bali from January to August 2017 had reached 3.99 million, an increase of 25 percent as compared to that recorded during the same period last year.

           However, lately, hotels in Bali have reported several cancellations of room reservations due to the increased volcanic activity of Mount Agung.

           In response to news reports, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has convinced tourists to visit the resort island without hesitation, adding that it remains safe and conducive despite the increased activity of Mount Agung, which is located in Karangasem District, Bali Island.

          The governor made assurance during a meeting with tourism stakeholders, such as travel operators, in Denpasar, Bali, on Oct 3.

          If Mount Agung erupts, it will have a direct impact on only 28 villages located within a radius of 12 kilometers from the volcano's crater.

          Bali's main tourist attractions, such as Nusa Dua, Kuta, and Sanur, are situated tens of kilometers from the location of the mount, he added.

          He said Karangasem has 78 villages, of which only 28 villages could be directly affected. The remaining 50 villages and other tourist destinations in Bali will remain safe.

               "Therefore, do not hesitate to visit Bali, except for climbing the mount, which will be forbidden as it is dangerous," Pastika explained.

            Besides, the current condition is different from how it erupted in 1963.

CYBERSECURITY EXPERTS IN HIGH DEMAND by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 3, 2017 (Antara) - Following rapid technological advancements, digital communication has become an intrinsic part of the people's lives.

        Billions of people are now connected to the internet following a major transformation in the digital world that has the potential to affect everyone and every business.

        The internet, however, is not free from cyber threats, such a malware, phishing, Denial-of-Service Attacks, Malvertising, and compromised passwords.

        A cyber attack is usually intended to inflict damage or expropriate information from an individual, organization, or public entity for the purpose of theft of payment card data, customer details, company secrets or intellectual property, unauthorized access to networks, compromised official records or financial and/or reputational damage.

        Unfortunately, cybersecurity mechanisms in place are unable to handle cyber threats that are growing at an alarming level. Currently, cybersecurity experts are in high demand and are being offered handsome salaries and great promotion prospects. 
   According to data compiled by Burning Glass, postings for cybersecurity jobs grew by 74 percent during the period between 2007 and 2013, two times faster than other positions in the information and technology sector. 
   Cybersecurity comprises technologies, processes, and measures that are designed to protect systems, networks, and data from cybercrimes.

        Effective cybersecurity reduces the risks of cyber attacks and protects entities, organizations, and individuals from the deliberate exploitation of systems, networks, and technologies.

        In Indonesia, the number of internet users reaches some 132 million. Indonesia is viewed as having the potential to develop reliable cybersecurity mechanisms.

TOURISM IS ECONOMIC BACKBONE OF EAST NUSA TENGGARA by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 2, 2017 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been paying greater attention to economic development in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to help the province catch up with other regions that are more developed.

         The development of a Special Economic Zone in NTT has been given priority, while Laboan Bajo has been designated as one of the country's 10 top priority tourist destinations.

         Sports tourism activities, such as the Tour de Flores and Tour de Timor, are organized annually as part of the tourism program to promote NTT globally.

         As a result, the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting the province has increased from year to year, especially with the opening of more international routes for air transportation.

         Moreover, the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy of the province has exceeded those of other sectors.

         Economic observer Dr James Adam has even claimed that the tourism sector has become a new economic backbone of NTT Province.

         The tourism sector contributed Rp2 trillion to the gross domestic product of the province, with a population of 5.2 million in 2016, Adam had said in Kupang, NTT's capital, on Sept 22, 2017.

         "This means the tourism sector has become a new economic strength, with 80 thousand foreign tourists visiting the region in 2015, increasing to more than 100 thousand in 2016. It was a 20 percent increase, or exceeded the growth target of 10 percent," he pointed out.

         Adam, a member of the International Fund for Agricultural Development for the empowerment of coastal people of NTT, made a statement on the tourist arrivals in the province and the impact on the regional economy and purchasing power of the local people.

         "The parameter is clear. The numbers of visits by domestic and foreign tourists rose sharply, thereby making NTT known across the world," he added.