VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The beauty of natural wealth in Indonesia cannot be doubted  anymore. Many tourism objects in Indonesia looks like in the paradise. Some of the tourism objects are well known and they have to be visited . One of them is Karampuang Island. There are two versions of the origin of the island why it is named Karampuang island. According to the first version, in the past, the island was a hiding place of the kings from the chase of the Dutch. It was named  Karampuang because combination from Kara meaning island, coral or stone and Puang meaning noble, and king. Kara and Puang was local language of tribes which lived in Sulawesi. So, Karampuang means island of the kings. While, according to the second version, the name of Karampuang comes from Mamuju language. It means full moon. According to the story, earlier the island had named Liutang Island. The name was changed by a figure in Mamuju becoming Karampuang. Karampuang Island is a small island with 6 km wide. The island is surrounded by blue clear water. The purity of its sea water makes marine biota able to be seen only from its surface. The best spot to see the beauty of its under-sea is at wooden dock which was built on coastal line. Besides, it makes you able to enjoy the undersea beauty, wooden bridge as long as 500 meters. This can also become the best spot for taking picture. For tourist who love diving, the clarity of the sea water of Karampuang Island cannot be missed. Because by diving, certainly you will be more satisfied to see the beauty of marine biota of Karampuang Island. In addition to offering the beauty of the beach with clear water, you can also enjoy some interesting places of this island. On this island, there is a unique well which has three different flavors. The flavor water of the well is salty, brackish and tasteless. The three-flavor well is also mentioned  soul mate well. Another place of the island which can be visited is Lidah cave. Karampuang Island is located at Simboro district, Mamuju regency, West Sulawesi. The distance from Makassar is around 295 km. To go to the island from Mamuju, tourists can rent Katinting or speed boat with cheap tariff. Departure to Karampuang Island can be started from Mamuju dock where there is fish auction, Kasawi. From there, it takes only 20 minutes.

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry and Center for South East Asian Studies held a workshop theme the 28th Handling Potential Conflict at South China Sea, in Manado North Sulawesi on September 9-11 2018. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Dr. AM Fachir conveyed that South China Sea must be managed through cooperation among stakeholders, and only through collaboration and dialogue, stability and prosperity in all regions can be achieved. The workshop was participated in by 64 participants from Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Viet Nam, and Chinese Taipei. The workshop was a one and half track diplomatic efforts to support the negotiation at the first track (government), especially to establish confidence. One issue that appeared in the workshop this year is a discussion on handling pollution on sea, and the workshop has proposed research cooperation project on it, among other related to the impact of micro-plastic on ecosystem and marine biota and investigation on the distribution and source of micro-plastic.

Indonesian Consulate General in Tawau, held Wonderful Indonesia Festival 2018 in Eastern Plaza, Tawau-Sabah, Malaysia, on September 7 – 9, 2018. The Festival was attended by 1000 visitors in 3 days. The event aimed to promote products of small and medium entrepreneur, and Indonesian tourism in North and East Kalimantan. Through the event, the entrepreneurs met business partners from Malaysia to develop their products. Besides that, the event also strengthened relation of social culture of the two countries, especially border region of the two countries. As many as 32 small-medium entrepreneurs exhibited their products in the Wonderful Indonesia Festival 2018, among other handcraft, processing food, ingredients, clothes and other various kinds of Indonesian products.

Deputy Minister of Indonesian Foreign Affairs, Dr. A.M. Fachir along with Chief of the Supreme Court, Prof. Dr. M. Hatta Ali, innaugurated technical procedure for the shipment of rogatori letter and civil document of state border in Nusa Dua Bali. Dr. A.M. Fachir stated that the innovation by using technology of information is a mutual commitment of Foreign Affairs Ministry and Supreme Court to keep increasing public service for society. With the inauguration, people of justice seeker throughout Indonesia can follow and monitor by online the shipment process of rogatori letter and civil document through state border. In addition, society and court can also get information on provision of foreign state related to the shipment of rogatori letter and civil document and also the fee of the shipment. Fachir affirmed that the system is established to ensure rogatori letter and court’s document in civil case can be received well by related sides in overseas quickly, precisely, effectively and efficiently.

Regional Secretary of Tidore Kepulauan, Thamrin Fabanyo officially released participants of Ta’aruf parade to welcome and enliven Islamic New Year 1440 Hijriah/2018, by raising the start flag on Tuesday (11/9).The parade was started at the mayor office of Tidore Kepulauan and finished at Tugulufa beachheld by regional leader of Muhammadiyah of Tidore Kepulauan in cooperation with city’s government of Kota Tidore Kepulauan. The parade was participated in by Islamic organization of Kota Tidore Kepulauan, Majelis Taklim, Local Government Work Unit, Elementary School, Junior High School, and Senior High School with the theme “With Spirit of Islamic New Year, Let Us Increase and Piety to haveGood Deed which has a Certain Character.“ In his speech, Thamrin Fabanyo invited all Muslims in Kota Tidore Kepulauan to take themomentum of New Year ofHijriah as media to foster unity and brotherhood towards better changein Tidore Kepulauan.

Tabut Bengkulu 2018 Festival is officially opened by acting governor of Bengkulu, Rohidin Mersyah, on Monday (10/9). The annual event which is held starting from 1 - 10 Muharram coinciding with September 11 – 20, has been in the Calender of Event 2018 of Tourism Ministry as one of 100 Wonderful Indonesiaagendas. Besides the beauty of its nature, tourism potential in 9 regencies and 1 city in Bengkulu has uniqueness of various cultures. Meanwhile, Ministerial Expert staff of Multicultural sector of Tourism Ministry, Esty Reko Astuty, in Bengkulu, conveyed that Tourism Minister’s support to Bengkulu Tourism has been the commitment of the ministry and the provincial government in develpoing tourism sector, so it can be source of welfare and economic improvement which certainly still hold sustainable principle. Besides that, Tourism Ministry also gives support to underline Special Economic Zoneof Baai island.

Around 3,000 people who consisted of Muslim students of various school, member of islamic community organizations, andIndonesian Military/Police in Biak Numfor, Papua, participated in healthy walk to enliven Islamic New Year 1 Muharram 1440 Hijriah, on Tuesday (11/9). The event was released by Council of Indonesia’s Mosque of Biak, Saepuddin, at Agung Baiturrahman Mosque. Saepuddin hoped the event can strengthen brotherhood among Muslims and encourage Biak people to conduct sport activities to protect healthy body. Meanwhile, head of prosperity of Agung Baiturahman BiakMosque,  Husin Tamher, conveyed his appreciation on the participation of Biak Muslim people in the event.

The armed conflict in Syria doesn’t  seem to be over. Those outside Syria who have a role in the civil war still play an important role in the crisis and bloodshed. Both the government and rebel camps can no longer escape from outside influences. A summit of  Turkey, Iran and Russia in Tehran a few days ago showed how other countries were so decisive in resolving the Syrian problem. When their talks failed to produce a breakthrough, there is a possibility of continuing war. This time the focus is Idlib. Idlib is a de-escalation zone established by Iran, Turkey and Russia. These three countries have built at least 12 observation posts in the region according to the previous agreement. While the tripartite summit did not produce a definite decision regarding the fate of Idlib. Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following the failure of the summit, has warned of the possibility of a military attack on Idlib. If that happens then more victims   will fall again on the civilians and a wave of refugees will occur. Turkey in talks in Tehran has proposed to find a solution to maintain peace in Idlib. To Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Vladimir Putin from Russia, Erdogan stressed the need to increase Turkey's role in Idlib. At the suggestion, Vlaimir Putin still argued for the need of  a crackdown. Moscow opposes the proposed ceasefire. The reason is, because there are still resistance factions that were not included in the peace talks. Putin is of the view that the Syrian Government must have strong support in order to be able regain control of all regions. From the failure of the Tripartite Summit in Tehran, it can be seen that the foreign side is very influential in resolving the bloody conflict in Syria. The different interests of foreign countries that now are implementing their influence, both on the government and the resistance or the opposition has blocked the effort to resolve the civil war in Syria. A country that was once peaceful and prosperous will still remain at a war. Not only because of differences in interests of parties in the country, but even more so, because of foreign interference.