Ma'ruf meets with the President of Singapore to discuss economic and health cooperation

Jakarta - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Singapore, Monday, in order to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the economic and health sectors.

Starting the meeting, the Vice President's Secretariat in Jakarta informed that Vice President Ma'ruf conveyed warm greetings from President Joko Widodo and congratulations on the inauguration of President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as the 9th President of the Republic of Singapore on 14 September 2023.

"I congratulate His Excellency on your election as President of the Republic of Singapore," said Ma'ruf Amin when meeting Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Singapore Presidential Palace, Monday, local time.

On that occasion the two leaders discussed plans to strengthen and strengthen relations between the two countries in the future through deepening cooperation in various strategic sectors, one of which is the economic sector.

“Singapore is Indonesia's main trade and investment partner. "As of September this year, investment realization reached 12.1 billion US dollars, while total trade reached 22 billion US dollars," he said.

Therefore, the Vice President requested that this economic partnership need to be strengthened through the development of sharia economic cooperation and halal products which is estimated to reach more than 11 trillion US dollars in 2023.

As a country that has the largest Muslim population in the world, said Ma'ruf, Indonesia has the aspiration to become a global halal center which has been supported by three Halal Industrial Zones (KIH) in Bintan, Serang and Sidoarjo.

"I hope Singapore can become a partner in developing this industry, and encourage completion," he said.

The next thing that was also discussed was related to cooperation in the health sector.

The Vice President hopes that cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore in the health sector, which includes improving health services and technology, will deepen.

"I hope that in the future Singapore investors can continue to be actively involved in improving the quality of Indonesia's health infrastructure, including in the Health Special Economic Zone (KEK) in Sanur, Bali," he said.

The Vice President appreciates the enthusiasm of Singaporean entrepreneurs who took part in the Singapore Health Services Business Mission to Indonesia last October.

"My hope is that the follow-up activities to this business mission can be realized soon," he said.

On that occasion, the Vice President highlighted the education and tourism cooperation between the two countries, especially in the reactivation of the Indonesia-Singapore Education Joint Working Group.

"I also highlight that opportunities for cooperation in the tourism sector are still wide open," he said.

Closing the meeting, the Vice President expressed his hope that good relations between Indonesia and Singapore could continue and be sustainable, and hoped that the two countries could immediately complete the harmonization of 'cruise' protocols to make it easier for Singaporean tourists to vacation in Indonesia.

Accompanying the President of Singapore at the meeting were Minister of Education and Culture of Singapore Mohamad Maliki Osman, Principal Private Secretary to the President of Singapore Julius Lim, Deputy Director General of Southeast Asia I Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Weiming Tan, and Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Jeff Khoo.

Meanwhile the Vice President was accompanied by the LBBP-RI Singapore Ambassador Suryo Pratomo, Head of the Vice President's Secretariat Ahmad Erani Yustika, Deputy for Administration Sapto Harjoyo WS and Spokesperson for the Vice President Masduki Baidlowi (RN, BPMI – Setwapres).

The Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF), who are cooperating in the "One Four" operation; Karenni Army (KA) and People's Defense Forces PDF forces in 2023. During November.

The Karenni Army said that within a month of the "One Four" operation by the Karenni Joint Forces in Kayah State, which began on November 11, they were able to control the town of Loikaw and the towns of Mobre on the Shan-Kayah border.

Operation "One Four" by the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF); The Karenni Army (KA) and PDF forces of the People's Defense Forces are working together, and they currently control about 80 percent of the town of Loi Ko, Karenni Army (KA) commander-in-chief Colonel Boor Naing told RFA.

"In our area, Mo Bree has already taken control. Only 422 battalions will remain. It can be said that 80% of the liquid glue can be controlled. As for Loiko, the cleaning was done slowly. Because if you do it right away, there will be a lot of harm to people, There is also damage, so it is done slowly. The main goal is to drive everyone out, and then how the administration will do it will come later."

Currently, the military council's administrative mechanisms are suspended in Loikaw and Mobre towns, but Karenni forces are still unable to control everything, he said.

Vanya Khun Aung, secretary (2) of the Karenni Interim Administrative Council IEC, told RFA that local people will be able to travel with peace of mind once public administration systems are operational.

"Since Loikor City has not been 100 percent seized, the administrative mechanism has not yet been established. However, the public is not allowed to travel freely. Currently, we are going with a military administration model. It has not yet gone with the detailed public administration mechanism. Moe Bree is the same way. Currently, only the Karenni forces are controlling and strict. It is still military. There is still no form of rehabilitation under a real public administration system.”

They tried to capture the capital of Kayah State, Loikkou, in the "One Four" operation that emerged along with the 1027 operation in northern Shan State. On the side of the military council, military, In order not to lose the city of Loikaw, which was firmly built by the administration, it was strongly defended by using force in various ways.

Infantry Division (261), including the Regional Command Headquarters (DAK), which is the main base of the Military Council Army in Loikaw City; Khlara (250); Khlara (54), 356th Artillery Battalion; 362 Military Hospital No. 7 Battalions such as the Support and Transport Squadron No. (722) are also based there.

Loikor Dakas, on behalf of the Eastern Command, is responsible for the defense of the Karenni regions. Security Military sources said he was tasked with conducting operations and controlling strategically important areas.

In addition, he said, it is also important for the military council to handle the military operations of subordinate troops and other arms/staff troops in the area and to forward and supervise orders and instructions from the military office and regional military headquarters.

U Than Soe Naing, a political and military analyst, said that Loi Kao is a place to control and provide support to other townships in the Karenni region, so the military council cannot let it go, and the Karenni forces' side is to gain 100% control over Loi Kao in order to gain independence from the state.

“If we get Loi Kor, it will be the first liberated KNDF area in the state. It can be said that the city can be dominated. But if you can't capture the strategic camp, you can't say that you've got Loikor. If we can't capture that camp, we will continue to use the Luikow Airfield. As a military council. Then we will be able to continue with matters such as the reinforcement of military forces and the replenishment of weapons and food."

KNDF announced that 32 military council soldiers surrendered in the battle of Loikko University on November 14th, as both sides had done during the "One Four" operation.

204 academic staff and family members of Loikaw University who were trapped in the middle of the fighting were taken out, and 193 of them were exiled with a pledge of allegiance. The Karenni interim administration said that five employees and a total of 11 family members, including the vice-rector, were fined by the Department of Justice and allowed to return home.

Non-CDM teacher from Loikaw University who will return home.  2023 to teachers and family members  When we met on November 24th.  (Photo: Karenni Interim Administrative Council (IEC))

Non-CDM teacher from Loikaw University who will return home. 2023 to teachers and family members When we met on November 24th. (Photo: Karenni Interim Administrative Council (IEC))

Air attack by the Military Council Army during the "One Four" operation. The Karenni Humanitarian Assistance Group (KHAI) announced on December 8 that 82 local civilians were killed due to gunfire and shootings from November 11 to December 8. Among those 82, 39 were men. 18 women 12 children Korin and name He said there are 11 people whose lives have yet to be confirmed. Among the dead, 43 were killed by heavy weapons, 24 were killed in airstrikes, and 15 were killed by gunfire, according to the statement.

In the 20 days from November 11th to 30th, the Military Council Army carried out 353 airstrikes in the city of Loikaw.

A local resident, who did not want to be named due to security reasons, told RFA that since December 2, the fighting in Loikko town has not been intense, but the military council has blocked the road communication routes, so they are worried about the lack of food and medicine.

"When the income is not paid, the shortage of food has already started. If it becomes big, the need for doctors, Medical needs can appear gradually. I will do whatever I can to help them. I just treated it. The bad thing is that if you come back to the state, there will be shootings. I sent the patient who was hit by a large weapon to see Nyoung Shwe at the clinic. When I returned after sending, my car was also shot."

It is difficult for people who are not financially comfortable to leave the city, so there are still about 10,000 locals left in Loikko.

"I want to ask the agencies that do humanitarian work to help the humanitarian response effectively. "

A member of the Karenni Humanitarian Aid Association (KHAI) said that there is a special need for humanitarian aid for the remaining Loikaw residents as well as the war victims of the Karenni region.

"Current IDPs are not based on townships. When almost an entire state is an IDP, the Emergency Response needs a lot. I want to ask the agencies that do humanitarian work to help the humanitarian response effectively. Even if you can't provide it domestically, cross-border, I want to talk about the urgent need to implement aid programs.”

The latest situation in Loikaw and Mobre region. RFA tried to contact General Zaw Min Tun, who is allowed to speak to the military council, by phone today to get feedback about the civilian casualties, but he did not receive a reply.

Before the "One Four" operation in Kayah State , the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) started on October 27 in northern Shan State. The 1027 operation launched by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Rakhine Army (AA) is currently taking place in Shan State and Sagaing Division. Chin State It is expanding to Rakhine and Kayah states.