Coronavirus Pandemic; State of Emergency

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government’s stance in mitigating the coronavirus pandemic continues to invite criticism. Hospitals in the regions and research institutions are questioning the monopoly of the health ministry in virus testing. There is also controversy surrounding the import of coronavirus testing equipment. To avoid public disorder, President Jokowi refuses to call the coronavirus outbreak a crisis.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signed a letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, dated March 10, 2020. In the letter, Tedros implicitly requested the government’s transparency in mitigating the coronavirus disease 2019, or Covid-19. The WHO feels it needs to obtain Indonesia’s data. “The data is important as a comprehensive tool for measuring global risks,” said Tedros.

In the same letter, Tedros highlighted Indonesia’s approach to tracing and detecting corona cases and asked the Indonesian government to raise Covid-19’s status to a national emergency. Tedros also recommended that the government decentralize laboratories to monitor transmission clusters. Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman Teuku Faizasyah confirmed the existence of that letter.

The letter was not the first time the WHO expressed its doubt in the government. Before the president announced the first coronavirus cases on March 2, a WHO representative questioned Indonesia’s capability and transparency in mitigating the disease during a meeting with the health ministry. Former Director-General of Disease Prevention and Control, Anung Sugihantono, who attended the meeting, confirmed the WHO’s skepticism.

The government’s stance in handling corona cases has continued to draw criticism, both from inside and outside the country. Criticism grew after President Jokowi admitted that the government has not made public all data concerning the spread of the coronavirus. “We don’t want to cause public unrest and panic,” he said after reviewing the preparedness of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in anticipating the corona outbreak on Friday, March 13.

After announcing the first four cases of coronavirus, the government has not made data concerning infected patients public. Neither has the government announced transmission locations nor the hospitals where corona patients are being treated. According to Jokowi, every country has adopted different policies. The president claims that the government moves quickly after each new case or cluster is discovered.

A number of institutions joined under the Civil Society Coalition, such as the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, Lokataru, as well as Migrant Care, compare Indonesia to South Korea, a country also facing the threat of Covid-19. The South Korean government broadcasts not only new cases but also locations where they are found. Amnesty International Indonesia Director Usman Hamid says it is enough for the Indonesian government to announce coronavirus locations so that the people can avoid transmission.

The government’s position of not wanting to cause unrest was already decided during a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace several days before the first cases were announced on March 2. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy, who was present at the meeting, says the meeting was meant to discuss mitigation efforts for the corona outbreak, which has affected the world. "The President said not to use the term ‘crisis’ in handling coronavirus to avoid causing panic," said Muhadjir. 

I Wayan Agus Purnomo 

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