The Culprit For The Quarantine Of Indonesian Citizens In Natuna Is The Government Itself

Quarantine locations for Indonesian citizens in Natuna (Twitter / @ KemenkesRI)

JAKARTA - The appointment of Raden Sadjad Air Base in Natuna Regency as a quarantine location for Indonesian citizens who have just been picked up by the government from Wuhan City, China due to the corona virus has resulted in a wave of protests from the government and the local community.

They are afraid of being exposed to the corona virus even though the central government says Indonesian citizens at the quarantine location are declared healthy. As a result of this wave of protests, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD then summoned a number of parties.

Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan Agus Putranto, Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, as well as the Regent and Deputy Regent and members of the Natuna Regency DPRD joined the meeting held at the Kemenkopolhukam Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Tuesday, February 4 .

From left: Minister of Health Terawan, Menkopolhukam Mahfud MD, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian (Twitter / @ PolhukamRI)

After the meeting, Mahfud then conveyed to the media about the delay in information for the Natuna Regency Government regarding the quarantine location for Indonesian citizens who had just been picked up. This delay in information occurs because of the rapid development of information.

"There was something like, not miscommunication, huh. Delay in information. Because developments were taking place so fast. So, when the government got the greenlight to repatriate our Indonesian citizens from Wuhan, they immediately worked quickly and decided to take a place in Natuna which was considered the easiest, safest place , and close to military agencies, "said Mahfud.

Even though there was a delay in information, the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) guaranteed that the existence of a quarantine place in Natuna Regency would not endanger the surrounding community. "In addition to formal guarantees, the Minister of Health said that he guaranteed his body," he said, adding that communications would continue to be carried out so that this misunderstanding could be resolved immediately.

Poor coordination

Regarding the chaotic location of the quarantine, public policy observer Trubus Rahadiansyah believes this is clear evidence of the weakness and inadequacy of coordination between the central government and regional governments, which has caused them to stutter with this fast-paced situation.

"The emergence of this commotion is due to a lack of coordination between the ministries and institutions. Should it be decided that it would be a quarantine location, the equipment in the area should work quickly," Trubus told VOI by telephone, Tuesday night, February 4.

He assessed that there was no socialization for the people in Natuna regarding the quarantine activities which only lasted for two weeks according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). In fact, the government should continue to socialize even though time is so short.

"In my opinion it is naive if there is a statement that the time is running quickly. Even though Natuna is not as big a community as Jakarta, technology has already reached the regions. So this (communication technology) should be a tool so that the central and regional governments can coordinate well," he said. Trubus.

In addition, Trubus also highlighted that the central government actually has enough time to notify the Natuna Regency Government before the Indonesian citizen from Wuhan, China arrives at the quarantine location. However, this was not the case.

The performance of the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, was also mentioned by Trubus. According to him, the former National Police Chief was not working optimally. The reason was that after the quarantine location was decided in Natuna, Tito should have communicated with his staff to carry out socialization and communication as well as education regarding quarantine.

Activities at Quarantine locations (Twitter / @ KemenkesRI)

"All three of these are not carried out by the Minister of Home Affairs. So that the Natuna people who imagine this corona virus as something terrible due to lack of information then become resistant," he explained.

"If for example the central government communicates well, as well as educates the public, I don't think this will exist," he added.

Trubus' assessment could be true. Because, at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Central Jakarta, Natuna Regent Abdul Hamid Rizal said he knew that the area he led was a quarantine location not through official channels but from the media.

"Previously there was no (notification from the central government). We are honest, there is not yet. We did get all the news on Saturday, February 1 from the electronic media and from my staff," he said.

Reportedly, the government has repatriated 238 Indonesian citizens (WNI) from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, related to the corona virus attack. Hundreds of these people arrived on Sunday, February 2 at Hang Nadiem Airport, Batam and were then flown to Raden Sajak Airbase in Natuna, Riau Islands to undergo a series of medicals for two weeks.

This number was reduced by seven people from the initial figure, namely, 245 people. The reason is that as many as four people are reluctant to return to Indonesia for family reasons.

While the other three were declared not in a healthy condition so they were not allowed to leave the Wuhan area, China. Although they cannot return to Indonesia, the government has stated that the Chinese Ministry of Health will be responsible for the three people and believes they have not been exposed to the corona virus.