VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Consulate Directorate of Indonesian Foreign Ministry reported to foreign representatives  about the development of  current situation  in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara –NTB after the earthquake with 7,0 Richter scale hit North Lombok on  5th August. The Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/8) also reported that the  handling steps are done by Indonesian government. Currently, the government is trying to evacuate the people at the area. The foreign representatives that came to the meeting expressed their condolence to the government and people of Indonesia to handle and respond quickly. To ease the coordination and information related to the foreigners in Lombok, Consulate Directorate of Foreign Ministry  gave hotline number that can be contacted every time. Moreover, It also made Whatssap group with member of deputy from Indonesian Foreign Ministry, related ministries or institutions  as well as foreign representatives in Jakarta.

Indonesian Foreign Minister,  Retno Marsudi appreciated the condolence and grief remark conveyed by leaders of  friendly countries over the earthquake in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara –NTT (5/8) . While attending the 51st ASEAN Anniversary in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/8), Minister Retno said that the Indonesian government has received sympathy and grief from many leader countries and international organizations such as Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,  Russian President  Vladimir Putin, President of South  Korea  Moon Jae-in,  Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Secretary General of the United Nations , Antonio Guterres, and Secretary General of  ASEAN, Lim Jock Hoi. Those countries are also ready to give assistance needed by Indonesia in overcoming the problem post-earthquake. Minister Retno said that all foreign tourists have been evacuated by local government and several parties since the earthquake with magnitude of 7 Richter scale. Then, Minister Retno at "7^th Bali Process Ministerial Conference" in  Bali on Tuesday (7/8) said that there are not foreign tourists to be victims at the disaster. At least, 700 tourists with local people were evacuated from Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno heading to Bangsal Port  to anticipate the next earthquake.

 Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia, Ikrar Nusa Bhakti released 6 scholarship participants of Darmasiswa from Tunis  in 2018/2019 academic at Indonesian Embassy in Tunisia on Monday  (6/8). At the meeting, Ambassador Ikrar expected that the participants can learn language, art and culture of Indonesia optimally. Darmasiswa participants  from Tunisia will be replaced in several universities such as Udayana Univin Bali, Katolik Soegijapranata University in Semarang, Trisakti Tourism Academic School in Jakarta, Jakarta State University and State Polytechnic in Bali. Besides learning Indonesian language, several participants can also learn and  explore culinary  and Indonesian herb treatment. The Indonesian ambassador also instructed the participants to obey the rules and norms in Indonesia and know the local culture.

At present, the status on social media can also be a problem in the relations between two countries. As happened when the Canadian Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland last week voiced her concern through social media about the detention of Saudi women activist, Samar Badawi. Following the statement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recalled its Ambassador in Canada and expelled the Canadian Ambassador from Riyadh. Several other actions were carried out by the kingdom. It has called back some students studying in Canada, forbidding Saudis from going to the country and stopping Saudi flight services to Canada. The Saudis insist that they will not allow other countries to interfere in their internal affairs. Saudi actions are supported by neighboring countries in the region such as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Palestine. The United States, which is close to both of them, until now has not clearly supported one of them. If with Canada, the United States has a relationship within the NATO framework. With Saudi Arabia, there is a close bilateral forum that binds the two countries. At present, the relationship between US President Donald Trump and the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau is not very good. Whereas with Saudi Arabia, President Trump has been known to provide more space to share communication. The first country President Trump visited after becoming president was Saudi Arabia. In March this year, the US also received the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau apologized for the status updates on social media that have heated up Canada's relations with Saudi Arabia. There are efforts to improve the worsening relationship. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland also made contacts with the Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel al Jubeir. It seems that this problem will be resolved by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Canada. Hopefully, the relations between the two countries will be good again immediately. The settlement can be done directly by the two countries or other countries can make mediation. So, the Middle East region, which has been hit by various conflicts, will not have another problem.

In South Sulawesi province, there is regency called ‘Maros’. The regency is a tourism area which has complete varieties, such as Teletubies hills and Bengo-Bengo pine forest. Not far from Pute River, there is amazing scenery. It is called ‘Rammang-Rammang Stone Forest’. In 2001, UNESCO enlisted karst Maros as natural conservation which has met 9 requirements, such as unique biodiversity and  remains of ancient humans existing on cave’s wall. This place is the second biggest karst in the world after karst area in Yunnan, South China. The word of Rammang-Rammang comes from South Sulawesi language, meaning cloud or fog. The local people give the place with the name Rammang-Rammang because every morning or when raining, the place is usually covered with cloud or fog. When cloudy, there are clusters of stone pillars at the fields of local people and these make the scenery to be seen exotic.  Rammang-Rammang tourism object is located at Salenrang village, Bontoa district, Maros regency, South Sulawesi province. The location of the village is around 40 kilometers from Makassar. To get access of the tourism object, we can reach the area by motor vehicles. If you go from Makassar city, it takes around 2 hours. If you directly go from Hasanuddin airport, it takes only 30 minutes.

Indonesian Ambassador to France, Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan  received Indonesian young entrepreneurs who are joined the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association on Sunday (5/8). The entourage was led by Chairman of the association, Bahlil Lahadalia. The Ambassador explained about bilateral relations between Indonesia and France, especially in economic sector. Various kinds of projects of financial cooperation, trade and investment development and cooperation of capacity development were also conveyed by the Ambassador. Members of the association, who visited the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, were from some regions of such as from Papua, Maluku, Bengkulu, Riau, or West Java and they also represented various kinds of businesses such as eco-resort, plantation, cosmetics, mining, construction and infratsructure. Meanwhile, on Monday (6/8), the entourage conducted ameeting with Paris Enterprise Region, which is special body to promote Paris territory and cooperation development of international trade of Paris city. After Paris, the entourage of the association will continue their trip to Belgium for further explore cooperation, especially related to techonology and innovation.

At post-Lombok and Bali earthquake, on Sunday (5/8/2018), Foreig Affairs Ministry provides call center which is coordinated by Director of Protection of Citizens and Legal Entitiesof Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal. In Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday (6/8), Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi, said that the call center is to assist the people who seek information about foreign tourists who become the victims of the earthquake.Minister Retno Marsudi explained after holding bilateral meeting with a number of delegations of “Bali Process”, on Monday (6/8/2018), in Nusa Dua, Bali that at the same time her office also coordinates with Immigration office, especially to help the foreign citizens who lose their documents such as passport due to the 7 Richter Scale earthquake. Minister Retno Marsudi further said that the earthquake that hit Lombok on Sunday has also postponed Sub regional Coordination Meeting in Fighting Terrorism which is held by Ministry of Law and Human Rights with delegation of a number of ASEAN countries.

A series of the 73rd Anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day Celebration in Windhoek, Namibia, was begun by organizingNamibia-Indonesia Festival 2018 (NAMINDO FEST), on Friday (3/8). The event which was a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy of Windhoek and the city’s government of Windhoek, lively held from 12.00 until 20.00 local time. Taking place at Functions Hall, the office of CityGovernment of Windhoek, NAMINDO FEST showed a series of events among others Fashion Show of “Indonesian Batik with Namibian Touch", cooking demo, handicrafts and foods exhibition, art performance such as Kulintang, Wayang, Puspita dance, Maumere dance, Marimba (African traditional music), photo booth by wearing Indonesian traditional clothes and many others. The opening of NAMINDO FEST was attended by ambassador from various neighboring countries, diplomatic communities, officials of Namibian government, and also public. In his speech, Indonesian ambassador to Namibia, Eddy Basuki said that event was aimed to strengthen relation on people-to-people contact of the two countries, by presenting various kinds of performances and Indonesian foods. Mayor of Windhoek, Muesee Kazapua appreciated the initiative of the Indonesian embassy and hoped the event was conducted annually in larger scale and also inspired other embassies to participate.