Haze from Fires Cause Schools Closings in Kalimantan
Worsening wildfires in Kalimantan have blanketed parts of the region in haze, forcing schools to switch to remote learning, increasing respiratory infections and disrupting flights. In West Kalimantan, Pontianak Mayor Edi Rusdi Kamtono ordered schools across the city to switch to remote learning as smoke from fires elsewhere blanketed the area. Tens of thousands of students attend schools in Pontianak, according to public records. “Children will learn from home for as long as air quality remains poor,” Edi said in a statement on Monday, as quoted by state news agency Antara. “We have started to feel the effects, particularly at night and in the morning, when smoke particles tend to be heavier and remain closer to the ground,” he said. According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), more than 48,000 personnel have been deployed to fight fires across six provinces: Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan.
Sukarno’s Philosophy Surfaces In President’s Speech
President Prabowo Subianto has invoked the economic philosophy of Marhaenism, associated with the quasi-opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as he seeks broad political support for his new plan to establish a mineral exchange. He made the remarks during his state budget speech at the House of Representatives’ plenary session on Friday, when he announced his government’s plan to establish its own exchange for minerals and strategic commodities by January next year. He said it was unacceptable for the prices of resources produced by Indonesians to be determined overseas. Marhaenism is a political philosophy developed by the country’s first president Sukarno and forms an important part of the ideological foundation of the PDI-P, which is now led by Sukarno’s daughter Megawati Soekarnoputri. It promotes national unity, culture and collectivist economics as an alternative to liberalism. “Actually, this is not ‘Prabowonomics’, this is Marhaenism,” Prabowo said, drawing laughter from lawmakers before adding, “PDI-P would find it difficult not to support this.” (Jakarta Post)
48 Dead after Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake Strikes Flores
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Flores at around 5:58 a.m. on Aug. 15, killing at least 48 people, according to the provincial governor. The powerful quake caused widespread shaking across the region and prompted authorities to assess damage and casualties. Emergency teams were deployed to affected areas as officials monitored the situation for further impacts. The full extent of the damage remains under assessment. Thousands of evacuees waited for help on Sunday. People in some areas were left without electricity and telecommunications and at least one emergency access road remained inaccessible.