Latest news with #Yogyakarta
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's hantavirus cases spark calls to eradicate rat infestations
A string of hantavirus-linked cases reported in Indonesia has sparked fears that the potentially lethal virus could be spreading undetected, with health experts citing widespread rodent exposure and poor sanitation as major risks that could lead to a further spike. Advertisement Eight cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), one of the diseases caused by the hantavirus, have been confirmed across four provinces – Yogyakarta, West Java, East Nusa Tenggara and North Sulawesi – as of June 19, according to a statement released by the health ministry on Saturday. All patients infected with HFRS have since recovered. While there is no need for public alarm at this stage, health experts recommend strengthening disease surveillance and ramping up public education efforts, noting that the virus could be silently spreading in high-risk areas. What is hantavirus? According to the Indonesian health ministry, hantavirus-linked diseases are transmitted by animals. 'This disease is transmitted through direct contact with rodents, and based on existing research, there has been no human-to-human transmission.' HFRS, the disease detected in Indonesia, primarily affects the kidneys and has been reported elsewhere in Asia and Europe. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), the other common disease caused by the virus, affects the lungs and is more prevalent in the Americas. HPS recently hit the headlines when it was reported that Betsy Arakawa, the wife of the late Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, had succumbed to the disease after she was found dead alongside her husband at the American couple's home in New Mexico in February this year. The hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was in the news recently following the death of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in Februay. Photo: Shutterstock It was believed that the couple's home had been infested with rats and rat droppings after police found rodent nests on the property.
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Indonesia's hantavirus outbreak sparks calls to eradicate rat infestations
A string of hantavirus-linked cases reported in Indonesia has sparked fears that the potentially lethal virus could be spreading undetected, with health experts citing widespread rodent exposure and poor sanitation as major risks that could lead to a further spike. Advertisement Eight cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), one of the diseases caused by the hantavirus, have been confirmed across four provinces – Yogyakarta, West Java, East Nusa Tenggara and North Sulawesi – as of June 19, according to a statement released by the health ministry on Saturday. All patients infected with HFRS have since recovered. While there is no need for public alarm at this stage, health experts recommend strengthening disease surveillance and ramping up public education efforts, noting that the virus could be silently spreading in high-risk areas. What is hantavirus? According to the Indonesian health ministry, hantavirus-linked diseases are transmitted by animals. 'This disease is transmitted through direct contact with rodents, and based on existing research, there has been no human-to-human transmission.' HFRS, the disease detected in Indonesia, primarily affects the kidneys and has been reported elsewhere in Asia and Europe. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), the other common disease caused by the virus, affects the lungs and is more prevalent in the Americas. HPS recently hit the headlines when it was reported that Betsy Arakawa, the wife of the late Hollywood actor Gene Hackman, had succumbed to the disease after she was found dead alongside her husband at the American couple's home in New Mexico in February this year. The hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was in the news recently following the death of Hollywood actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in Februay. Photo: Shutterstock It was believed that the couple's home had been infested with rats and rat droppings after police found rodent nests on the property.
RNZ News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
More deaths reported in West Papua clashes
File image: a Papuan man (right) in traditional clothing and face painted with the banned Morning Star flag stands next to a policeman during a demonstration demanding a referendum on independence in Yogyakarta on 1 December 2023. Photo: AFP / Devi Rahman Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, with clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continuing. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of 14 May in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central Papua. Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono, in a video statement translated into English, said 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed. He claimed the military wanted to provide health services and education to residents in villages in Intan Jaya, but they were confronted by the TPNPB. Prihartono said the military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the morning star flag - used as a symbol for West Papuan independence. But according to the TPNPB, only three of the group's soldiers were killed, with the rest being civilians. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said civilians killed included a 75-year-old, two women and a child. Both the women were allegedly found on 23 May in shallow graves. A spokesperson from the Embassy of Indonesia in Wellington said all 18 people killed were part of the TPNPB, as confirmed by the military. "The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and hospitals; therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group," they said. "The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because the armed criminal group tried to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion." The spokesperson said the military operation was carried out because local authorities "followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorized by the armed criminal group". Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said it was part of the wider Operation Habema, which started last year. "It is a military operation to 'eliminate' the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya but in several agencies along the central highlands," Harsono said. He said the operation had been intensifying since the TPNPB killed 17 miners in April, which the armed group accused of being "military informers". RNZ Pacific has been sent photos of people who have been allegedly killed or injured in the 14 May assault, while others have been shared by ULMWP. Harsono said despite the photos and videos, it was hard to verify if civilians had been killed. He said Indonesia claimed civilian casualties - including of the women who were allegedly buried in shallow graves - were a result of the TPNPB. "The TPNPB says, 'of course, it is a lie why should we kill an indigenous woman?' Well, you know, it is difficult to verify which one is correct, because they're fighting the battle [in a very remote area]. "It's difficult to cross-check whatever information coming from there, including the fact that it is difficult to get big videos or big photos from the area with the metadata." Harsono said Indonesia was now using drones to fight the TPNPB. "This is something new; I think it will change the security situation, the battle situation in West Papua. "So far the TPNPB has not used drones; they are still struggling. In fact, most of them are still using bows and arrows in the conflict with the Indonesian military."
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
More deaths reported out of West Papua clashes
File image: a Papuan man (right) in traditional clothing and face painted with the banned Morning Star flag stands next to a policeman during a demonstration demanding a referendum on independence in Yogyakarta on 1 December 2023. Photo: AFP / Devi Rahman Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia's military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue. One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of 14 May in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central Papua. Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono, in a video statement translated into English, said 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed. He claimed the military wanted to provide health services and education to residents in villages in Intan Jaya but they were confronted by the TPNPB. Prihartono said the military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the morning star flag - used as a symbol for West Papuan independence. But, according to the TPNPB, only three of the groups' soldiers were killed with the rest being civilians. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua said civilians killed included a 75-year-old, two women and a child. Both the women were allegedly found on 23 May in shallow graves. A spokesperson from the Embassy of Indonesia in Wellington said all 18 people killed were part of the TPNPB, as confirmed by the military. "The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and hospitals; therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group," they said. "The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because the armed criminal group tried to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion." The spokesperson said the military operation was carried out because local authorities "followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorized by the armed criminal group". Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said it was part of the wider, Operation Habema which started last year. "It is a military operation to 'eliminate' the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya but in several agencies along the central highlands," Harsono said.
Arab News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Macron decorates Indonesia leader, announces cultural partnership
MAGELANG, Indonesia: French President Emmanuel Macron bestowed Indonesia's leader with France's top award on Thursday, before announcing a new cultural partnership with Jakarta on a visit to the world's largest Buddhist temple. Macron's trip to Indonesia is the second stop of a three-nation, six-day tour of Southeast Asia that began with Vietnam and concludes in Singapore. After meeting for talks in the capital Jakarta, Macron and his counterpart Prabowo Subianto flew by helicopter on Thursday from Javan city Yogyakarta to a military academy in Magelang, a city surrounded by mountains in Central Java. The pair attended a military parade and Macron gave Prabowo the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France's highest military or civil award. Prabowo is an ex-general accused of rights abuses under dictator Suharto's rule in the late 1990s. He was discharged from the military over his role in the abductions of democracy activists but denied the allegations and was never charged. Macron rode in a jeep driven by Prabowo with the pair welcomed by a marching band and hundreds of students waving Indonesian flags. Macron then visited Borobudur, a Buddhist temple built in the 9th century that is the world's largest, where the pair announced they were boosting cultural ties. 'In front of this temple, we are taking an important step by launching a new cultural partnership,' said Macron. 'The first pillar is heritage and museum cooperation. The second pillar is cultural and creative industries,' he said. Macron said the basis of the new partnership would be cinema and fashion, as well as video games, design and gastronomy. The French leader will now depart for Singapore where he will deliver the opening address Friday at the Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia's premier security forum. On Wednesday, the pair called for progress on 'mutual recognition' between Israel and the Palestinians at a key meeting next month as Macron brought the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation into his diplomatic efforts. 'Indonesia has stated that once Israel recognizes Palestine, Indonesia is ready to recognize Israel and open the diplomatic relationship,' said Prabowo. Indonesia has no formal ties with Israel and support for the Palestinian cause among Indonesians runs high. The nations also signed a series of agreements on cooperation in a range of fields including defense, trade, agriculture, disaster management, culture and transport.
