VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia and the member states of European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed its landmark trade agreement: Indonesia EFTA Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement”IECEPA” at Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade yesterday, 16 December 2018.

The Agreement is historic, first time for Indonesia to having it with European countries. With this CEPA, market access in goods, services and investment of both sides is expected to be increased and certainly economic cooperation will be robust. A trade agreement is one of effective tools to boast competitiveness and reform process. (made-kemendag)

With tireless efforts, Theresa May, the current British Prime Minister is trying to get the results of the referendum that sets Britain out of the European Union. There were two things that May did to immediately arrive at the end of this agreement. The first approached European leaders some time ago, until finally EU leaders agreed. Now Theresa May is approaching EU leaders again to revise the Brexit agreement. However, May found her efforts rejected. European Union leaders say the Brexit agreement cannot be renegotiated. 

The second is convincing his own party to support his steps in the Brexit issue. In this case, May faced difficulties. The British Prime Minister faces challenges from his own camp, the Conservative party. Actually this is a continuation of May's own decision to postpone voting / voting in Parliament because May felt the need to lobby European Union leaders first. May's leadership was shaken, because last Wednesday (December 12, 201), the Conservative parliamentarians had reached a quorum to carry out a motion of no confidence in May. The quorum was reached after at least 48 Conservative party MPs supported the motion. 

Why did May postpone voting? It seems that May feels that if the vote is carried out beforehand, the Brexit agreement will be rejected with a significant vote difference. Instead of getting support, the resignation of voting time even made May on the edge. Some figures have been included in the May replacement candidate queue; like Boris Johnson, Sajid Javid and Amber Rudd. 

After Thursday's voting, British Prime Minister Theresa May escaped a vote of no confidence with 200 votes in support of 117 opposing votes. Thus, at least May will still be the Prime Minister for the next year. May's task is to oversee the Brexit plenary session on March 29, 2019. After Brexit is finished, what else will Theresa May do? The world looks forward to what drama will happen in Britain after Brexit.

Every December 13, Indonesia commemorates Nusantara Day, the archipelago day. This commemoration is to commemorate the service offormer Prime Minister, Djoeanda Kartawidjaja who bravely declared on 13 December 1957 that the Indonesian sea was included in the surrounding sea, between and within the Indonesian archipelago to become a unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia -NKRI. Nusantara Day was officially stipulatedby the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri through Presidential Decree No.126 / 2001.

The present generation deserves to be grateful, because without the Djoeanda Declaration, Indonesia's sea territory only covers the sea three miles from the coastline that surrounds the islands in Indonesia. Thus, among the Indonesian islands there is a free international sea, which separates one island from another and this means a threat to the NKRI. In addition, without the Djoeanda Declaration, Indonesia's marine wealth potential is only around 1/3 of its current potential.

Chairperson of the Indonesian Farmers and Fishermen Movement, Prof. Rokhmin Dahuri said that Indonesia has a huge economic potential in the marine sector. If the economic potential of the marine sector is managed optimally, these economic potentials can reach US$1.2 trillion dollars per year and are estimated to be able to employ 40 million people.

Based on the theme of the Archipelago Day 2018 commemoration, "The Realization of the Whole Unity of the Archipelago through the Juanda Declaration", the commemoration of the Nusantara Day is very important for the present generation to unite the feeling of being Indonesian citizens, considering the threat of national disintegration and separatism is still a threat to the NKRI.

 In addition, the commemoration of the Archipelago Day is very important to remind all components of the Indonesian nation that maritime power is a source of Indonesian nation's strength. Indonesian sea not only unites, connects islands to islands, but also has a large source of wealth. Indonesia still has to work hard to enhance the economic potential of the marine sector so that it can become a source of people's welfare.

Mother's Day in Indonesia is celebrated nationally on December 22. This date was inaugurated by President Soekarno under the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia No. 316 of 1959 on December 16, 1959, on the 25th anniversary of the 1928 Indonesian Women's Congress. The date was chosen to celebrate the spirit of Indonesian women and to raise awareness of the nation and state. Now, the meaning of Mother's Day has changed a lot, where the day is now commemorated by expressing love for mothers. People exchange gifts and organize various events and competitions, such as cooking and wearing kebaya competitions. [4]

Mother's Day in Indonesia is celebrated on the anniversary of the opening day of the first Indonesian Women's Congress, which was held from December 22 to 25, 1928. [5] [6] This congress was held in a building called Dalem Jayadipuran, [7] which is now the office of the Center for Preservation of History and Traditional Values ​​on Jl. Brigjen Katamso, Yogyakarta. The congress was attended by around 30 women's organizations from 12 cities in Java and Sumatra. In Indonesia, women's organizations have been around since 1912, inspired by 19th century Indonesian female heroes such as Kartini, Martha Christina Tiahahu, Cut Nyak Meutia, Maria Walanda Maramis, Dewi Sartika, Nyai Ahmad Dahlan, Rasuna Said, and so on. [5] The Congress is intended to improve women's rights in education and marriage. [8]

Indonesia also celebrated Kartini Day on April 21, in memory of female activist Raden Ajeng Kartini. This is a celebration of women's emancipation. [6] This commemoration date was inaugurated at the 1938 Indonesian Women's Congress. [8] When President Soekarno established Kartini as a national hero of women's emancipation and Kartini's birthday as a commemoration of the national women's emancipation day. But many Indonesians protested for various reasons, including Kartini only struggling in Jepara and Rembang, Kartini was more pro-Dutch than female figures such as Cut Nyak Dien, etc. Because Soekarno had already established Kartini Day, Soekarno thought about how to commemorate women heroes besides Kartini such as Martha Christina Tiahahu, Cut Nyak Meutia, Maria Walanda Maramis, Dewi Sartika, Nyai Ahmad Dahlan, Rasuna Said, etc. Finally Sukarno decided to make National Mother's Day a day to commemorate female heroes, aka heroes of mothers and all Indonesians agreed. [Citation needed]