🇮🇩Week of September 7

The Virgo Transport 8 sank in the Java Sea while carrying 243 passengers, and the vessel was initially reported out of contact in the waters off Java. The ship's last tracked movements were recorded in the Madura Strait by the AISITS system.123456

Rescuers have evacuated 143 of the passengers reported missing after the sinking, and a Pertamina tanker pulled 16 survivors from the water. One person was killed and 115 survived, according to an early casualty count.789

The Masalembo waters where the ship went down have a record of ship accidents, and the area has been listed among incidents in the Java Sea.810

Authorities have named 138 suspects in connection with the fires. In Riau alone, 49 suspects are being pursued in 45 cases.12

President Prabowo Subianto ordered an investigation into suspected deliberate burning of forests and land. The environmental group WALHI submitted data on 262 companies linked to the fires and is awaiting action from the president.34

The health ministry reported four deaths and 347 injuries from the fires across six provinces. Firefighting efforts have extinguished 421 hectares, with West Kalimantan and South Sumatra still prioritized for suppression.56

A child who reportedly lost their memory after eating a government free meal program (MBG) has been referred to RSCM hospital, according to a Ministry of Health update. The case is part of a suspected food poisoning incident in Karo, North Sumatra, that has drawn national attention. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) stated that child safety cannot be negotiated in response to the incident.12

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited Karo to inspect the condition of students suspected of being poisoned by the MBG program, accompanied by Governor Bobby Nasution. During the visit, Gibran apologized to the victims of the poisoning. The visit aimed to ensure the health recovery of those affected.34

Gibran also brought a personal doctor to help treat the poisoning victims in Karo. The doctor's involvement was reported as part of the response to the incident. This action underscores the government's attention to the case.5

The child with memory loss was referred to RSCM, a national referral hospital, indicating the severity of the case. The Ministry of Health provided an update on this referral. The referral is part of the medical response to the incident.1

KPAI emphasized that child safety cannot be negotiated, highlighting concerns over the MBG program's impact on children. The statement came amid reports of poisoning and memory loss. This adds to the scrutiny of the free meal program.2

Three employees of the Jayawijaya district government in Papua were shot dead by an armed criminal group while on duty. The victims were civil servants (ASN) from the local agriculture office. The killings drew condemnation from two DPR commissions, with Commission I calling the shooting 'very cruel' and Commission III calling it 'barbaric'.1234

The armed group used the phone of one of the victims, a probationary civil servant (CPNS), to video-call the victim's family. The group made the call while laughing, according to detikNews. The family of the slain CPNS was also terrorized by the group.567

Police have identified the armed group members who carried out the shooting and have obtained characteristics of the perpetrators. The identified suspects have been placed on the wanted list (DPO). A joint team is pursuing the perpetrators.81

Commission I of the DPR urged a thorough investigation into the shooting of the three Jayawijaya district government employees. Commission III of the DPR condemned the attack as 'barbaric'.94

The National Civil Service Agency (BKN) is preparing posthumous promotions for the three civil servants who died while on duty in Papua.10

South Sulawesi's provincial government introduced an odd-even system for subsidised fuel purchases to break up long queues at filling stations. The measure followed a fuel shortage that raised concerns about regional economic activity, with the agriculture minister stating that the scarcity would not disrupt food distribution in the province.123

Queues of fuel buyers in Makassar have begun to ease, and Pertamina Patra Niaga worked with the provincial government on the response. The two sides coordinated as the lines at a number of petrol stations in the city shortened.45

Pertamina also pledged to act firmly against rogue tanker drivers and said fuel supply in North Sumatra is secure. That statement addressed supply concerns in a separate province.6

In a separate activity, the Toyota Diesel Association's South Sulawesi 2 chapter held a fun riding event to reach three districts. The gathering was organised to bring the group closer to members across those areas.7