VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government of North Sulawesi is holding the Enchantment Bunaken Festival in the provincial capital of Manado on July 19-22,2018, to preserve the natural environment and cultural arts on the island of Bunaken.

"This festival will certainly leave a special impression and lead to lasting memories for both local and foreign tourists, who come to visit the Land of Swaying Coconuts," North Sulawesi Tourism Office Chief Daniel A. Mewengkang remarked in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Friday.

He noted that all small and medium entrepreneurs from all districts and cities in North Sulawesi are involved in this festival to showcase various products of excellence from this province. In addition, the leading products from various regions in Indonesia, such as fashion products, batik, weaving, embroidery, various handicrafts, accessories, jewelry, processed foods and beverages, agricultural, plantation, marine, and fisheries commodities, and tourism information are also featured at this festival.

"Through the exhibition of superior products in the Bunaken Festival, there will be interaction between the seller and buyer and also between business actors to establish business communication and expand the marketing network," Mewengkang pointed out.

Primarily, this festival will be a promotional event of the archipelago`s tourism and superior products to the wider community, especially domestic and foreign tourists, as well as buyers and business actors.

He revealed that various events to be held to enliven the festival comprise the race of ornamental boats, cultural carnival competitions, Kolintang race, Maengket race, new dances, and other interesting entertainment events.

Thousands of local and foreign tourists as well as central and local government officials, businesses, and communities of North Sulawesi will attend the Bunaken Festival. (ant)

Thousands of elementary school students in Yogyakarta enthusiastically witnessed the Asian Games torch relay on Thursday July 19.

"I am happy to be asked to welcome the Asian Games torch," Raihan, 11, a student of Jetis elementary school, stated while lining up a road covered during the torch relay.

The torch relay in Yogyakarta started from the Yogyakarta Palace, with Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, as the first bearer of the torch, who ran for 100 meters until the Yogyakarta Monument where it was handed over by Yogyakarta Mayor Haryadi Suyuti to an official of the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) that would later take the torch to Solo.

The torch relay will tour 53 cities in 18 provinces, covering a total distance of some 18 thousand kilometers across Indonesia.

On Tuesday (July 17), the torch arrived in Yogyakarta from New Delhi, with the flame generated from a parabolic mirror directed straight at the sun in India, where the Asian Games flame was lit for the first time during the inaugural edition in 1951.

On Wednesday evening, the flame from India was merged with the eternal flame from Mrapen at the Pramanan Temple.

After the merging of the two flames, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla handed over the torch to badminton player Finarshi at the complex of Prambanan temple.

The relay is expected to end on Aug 17 when the torch arrives at the Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta.

During the Asian Games torch relay event held at the Prambanan temple, on Wednesday evening, Vice President Kalla had stated that Indonesia was honored to be the host of the 18th Asian Games.

"After over 50 years, Indonesia now has another opportunity to host the Asian Games. This is an honor for the Indonesian nation," Kalla remarked.

Indonesia had hosted the Asian Games for the first time in 1962.

Indonesia has also been considered to be able to organize international sporting events and provide the necessary infrastructure facilities, he stated.

Kalla expressed hope that Indonesian athletes competing in the Asian Games 2018 would deliver better results.

"Organizational capability, infrastructure development, and achievements, God Willing, are the three crucial aspects," he added. (ANTARA)

United Nations Information Center (UNIC) Jakarta and the South African Embassy to Indonesia and Timor Leste commemorated the International Day of Nelson Mandela at an orphanage in Jakarta, Wednesday (18 July). On the occasion, the Ambassador of South Africa to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Hilton Fischer, asked the children to recall the principles of humanity and Nelson Mandela's struggle for 67 years serving others.

"We celebrate the principles of humanity, sharing with others, and today we celebrate, remember Nelson Mandela spend 67 years of his life. 67 years of his life serving others. And today we as the embassy just try to, you know, give back 67 minutes on his legacy," Hilton Fischer said.

Meanwhile, UNIC Acting Director Eshilla Maravanyika hoped the orphanage children can learn from Nelson Mandela who in his life time, tried to keep alive for others. Therefore, he invited them to give back to others who have given.

"We hope you can learn from what you have been given. And today you can also learn from how canyou give back. What you can give back. Mandela day is every day. We always give every day. I’m challenging you today to say do something, to take action, make a difference in the world. Like we are trying is very small but it’s very important," Eshila said.

Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual commemoration to commemorate the example and message of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid fighter. The commemoration falls on July 18, coinciding with Nelson Mandela's birthday. The anniversary of Nelson Mandela International Day was declared in 2009 by the UN. However, the first commemoration was only organized in 2010. (VOI/Rezha-Nada/AHM)

Preservation of endangered Sumatran rhino species will be one of topic of discussions in a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in Indonesia, Monday, July 23. Southeast Asia's Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Denny Abdi, said on Wednesday (18/7) that the two countries have been trying to find ways to increase the Sumatran rhino population.

"We are currently working with Malaysia in the conservation of the Sumatran rhinos. The rhino is one of the rare species in the world. They have 2 species while Indonesia still has some, although the trend is also declining. Our experts are trying to find ways how to keep these rhinos exist. If it works, it's a worldly achievement to defend endangered species, Denny Abdi said.

Denny Abdi added that Malaysia will also bring in some conservation experts from Germany and the United States to assist Sumatran rhino conservation cooperation with Indonesia. The experts are brought in specifically to discuss, conduct research, and find ways to increase the Sumatran rhino population. The conservation of the Sumatran rhinos will be concentrated in two places, namely in Sabah, Malaysia and in Way Kambas, Lampung, Indonesia. According to the latest data from the International dor Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, the Dicerorhinus Sumatrensis or Sumateran Rhinos, spread in Indonesia and Malaysia has a population of not more than 100 species.  (VOI/Rezha/Trans Ndy/AHM)