The wRap Indonesia: Nov. 17, 2014

JAKARTA, Indonesia – President Joko Widodo’s first day back in Indonesia after his 9-day international tour and the inauguration this week of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as Jakarta governor lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia.  

1. Jokowi convenes cabinet meeting on first day back to assign ‘homework’

Fresh from his 9-day tour of international summits, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday, November 17, will convene his cabinet to brief them about the deals discussed with foreign leaders and officials, and assign them “homework” to follow up on these. From Beijing alone, where the APEC Summit was held, 12 deals were agreed upon, according to Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto. More than 10 countries have also indicated interest in investments or other forms of cooperation with Indonesia, he added. Jokowi told reporters on Sunday he would, for example, instruct the coordinating minister for maritime affairs to follow up cooperation commitments in this area with China and Japan. He would also assign a relevant minister to follow up commitments from Italian businessmen to invest in the automotive industry, especially tires.

2. In a first, Jokowi set to inaugurate Ahok as Jakarta governor this week

Jokowi will personally inaugurate his former deputy, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, as the governor of the capital this week – the first time the head of state will swear in a governor under a new government regulation in lieu of law on regional elections issued by former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that mandates it. The inauguration could take place as early as Tuesday, November 18, if Jokowi manages to issue a presidential decree appointing Ahok as governor on Monday. On Friday, the Jakarta city council already endorsed Ahok’s assumption of the office left by Jokowi despite political opposition and protests from hard-line groups. 

3. 7.1-quake causes panic but no major damage

akibat gempa tdi bngunan hotel lion manado ambruk x_x pic.twitter.com/bCSb0C380X

— Mercy luasunaung (@Mercydianinsi) November 15, 2014

The powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that rocked the Maluku Islands on Saturday, November 15, caused a small tsunami and panic among residents but no major damage. Only a 9-centimeter wave was monitored at Jailolo on Halmahera island, in the Maluku Islands, and tiny waves in Tobelo on Halmahera, and in Manado. Local authorities said there were no reports of casualties or major damage, save for some buildings in Manado, and the tsunami warning was lifted after a short while. Read the full story on Rappler.

4. Ebola tests come back negative for 5 patients in Indonesia

Indonesia is still ebola-free, with tests on 5 men who fell ill after arriving from African countries coming back negative for the dreaded disease, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. One of the 5 patients was from Ghana while the rest were Indonesians from different parts of the country. The World Health Organization said Friday, November 14, that 5,177 people had so far died of Ebola across 8 countries, out of a total 14,413 cases of infection since late December 2013. On Saturday, Jokowi and other leaders of the world’s most powerful economies gathered in Brisbane for the G20 Summit issued a statement vowing to do all they can to “extinguish” the deadly Ebola outbreak in west Africa, but no cash commitments were made. 

5. Deputy rector, lecturer of university in Makassar caught in drug bust

On Friday, local police raided the Grand Malibu Hotel in Makassar, South Sulawesi, following a tip that there would be a drug party there. Inside room 312, they found not only a female student high on crystal methamphetamine but also Hassanuddin University (Unhas) deputy rector Musakkir and lecturer Ismail Alrip, Kompas.com reported. “Professor Musakkir has been suspended from his position,” university rector Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu announced on Saturday, according to the Jakarta Post. Their arrest led police to two more drug-filled rooms in the same hotel that night, leading to a total of 6 people being arrested. – Rappler.com