Friday, March 29, 2024 | 05:56 WIB

OPINION

The 2024 palm oil-based economic prospects

Indonesia’s performance of the palm oil-based economy in 2023 was rife with drama, even though it was not as catastrophic as the export bans of crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives previously imposed in 2022. It only feels like yesterday when the ban on CPO exports around the Ramadan (fasting) month in 2022 caused the price of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) to plummet to under IDR 1,000/kg. The extreme drought of El Niño in 2023 would not greatly impact CPO production performance. CPO production in 2023 is estimated to be 48.6 million tons, and palm kernel oil (PKO) production is predicted to be 4.6 million tons. So, the total palm oil production is 53.2 million tons, an increase of 3.81% over total production of 51.2 million tons in 2022. 

Guaranteeing accountability of the judiciary and respect for human rights principles in the criminal justice system

The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) recommends eight criminal justice and human rights issues be proposed for the campaign of three pairs of presidential and vice-presidential candidates who will compete in the 2024 election. 

Moderates vs. Extremists In the Israel-Palestine Dispute

In a strong rebuke to Israel for its on-going war in Gaza, the United Nations General Assembly in a special emergency session voted overwhelmingly in favor of an immediate ceasefire. The vote also served as a stern reminder to the United States, which vetoed a similar motion inside the UN’s Security Council, that the world stands united in calls fir peace and adhemently denounces Israel’s disproportionate use of force which has so far caused 18, 000 casualties amongst Palestinians and a wide-spread humanitarian crisis that threatens to cause yet more unnecessary deaths due to starvation, disease and lack of access to medical care. 

KPU has been violated (again!)

The General Election Commission (KPU) has once again been attacked by hackers. An anonymous villain, going by the name “Jimbo,” claims to have successfully infiltrated the kpu.go.id website and obtained voter data from the site, as also claimed by hacker Bjorka in 2022, when they scooped up data on 105 million voters from the KPU website. 

The absence of a minimum wage framework

The minimum wage (UM) increase has resulted in an annual controversy and ongoing concern, which has resurfaced this year. The issue has persisted for a long time and is expected to continue. A reluctant government fails to address the UM issue, which leads to a recurring controversial subject.

Women’s vulnerability to violence

Cases of domestic violence (KDRT) have recently been highlighted, involving a housewife who is also a general practitioner, Qori Ulfiyah Ramayanti (37). Qori, who was six months pregnant at the time, is trending on social media after escaping her house due to domestic abuse. Qori’s husband is known to be unemployed and filming his daily activities for a YouTube channel. Another case of violence has attracted public attention: the alleged rape of a café waitress by the Regent of Southeast Maluku, M. Thaher Hanubun. The Maluku Regional Police have stated that they will not dismiss the case, despite the family’s request for case withdrawal (BBC News, September 21, 2023). 

Geopolitics and economics if Trump becomes President

I mentioned before that certain pundits, such as Financial Times Editor Gillian Tett, and former Advisor to President Obama David Axelrod, wrote ‘Do not discount the chance for a Trump second term’ and ‘that President Biden should reconsider his bid for re-election, due to his age’ Those, plus polling that confirms 70 percent of GOP voters do believe Trump’s lies about the 2020 election results, as well as a weakening approval rating for President Biden, and a possible renegade like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia who wants to run as a third-party candidate – which for sure will take away votes from Biden.

Constitutional Court’s age decision favors the young

The world seems puzzled by the recent buzz in Indonesia’s election process. Why puzzled? Because many democracy activists questioned or rejected the Constitutional Court’s decision allowing Indonesian citizens below 40 years of age to qualify as presidential or vice-presidential candidates.

Accelerating the adoption of agricultural technology

The impact of an extreme drought caused by El Niño has tended to compromise Indonesia’s staple food production. Generally, people have to bear with skyrocketing prices of rice, paying up to IDR 15,000/kg, as a result of a plunge in food production. The swelling food prices contribute to the rate of inflation and declining purchasing power. 

Pope Francis, Prabowo Subianto and the impoverished and marginalized

This article depicts the words Prabowo conveyed when I previously met him on two different occasions. They represent General Prabowo’s feelings, thoughts, ideas and compassion for the vulnerable people in Indonesia and around the world.

The people of Maluku deserve comfortable public transportation

People who reside on Java are privileged to enjoy the convenience of public transportation, which is not the case for those living in Maluku Province. Public transportation in this province is far from decent, let alone comfortable. With the operation of Jakarta-Bandung WHOOSH high-speed rail, the gap between public transportation services on the main island and the regions has become more overwhelming.

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