VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In today’s edition, we will bring you a topic about the successful breeding of Sumatran tigers in the wild.

To commemorate the Global Tiger Day on 29^th July, the World Wildlife Fund of Indonesia (WWF Indonesia) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Indonesia released a rare documentary video demonstrating the successful breeding of tigers in the wild. Through a press release on Sunday morning (29^th July 2018), Head of Tigers Alive Initiative, Michael Baltzer explained that as the main predator in food chain, tigers have significant role to maintain the ecosystem balance in a bid to sustain the lives of other species and human beings. However, currently tigers are in critical status.

Michael Baltzer said that currently, there are only 3,900 species of wild tigers in this world and compared to last year, these tigers could only be found about 5% from their observation.

Michael Baltzer added that as a fact, a video showcasing fascinating evidences and proofing this carnivore’s breed has already been released. Tigers breed similarly like cats on condition that the tigers have protected habitat, enough prey, and they are not hunted. He also stated that it takes a lot of time to accomplish the goals of TX2. This means that assistance from the government, businesspeople, local people, and everyone who cares about tigers is required to support the tiger conservation efforts. Therefore, Michael and his team truly appreciate the efforts of Indonesian government to save this extraordinary species.

Furthermore, Director of Sumatera and Wildlife, World Wide Fund (WWF Indonesia), Suhandri said that the video showing the breed of tigers proved Sumatran tigers to be healthy since they could breed well and are appropriate to inhabit the environment of Central Sumatera.

Suhandri also pointed out that the successful breeding of Sumatran tigers reflects strong commitment from the government of the Republic of Indonesia as well as supports from community partners, regional government, and international communities to save tigers and their habitat. The restoration of tigers’ population is a key point for mankind to live properly with the availability of natural resources.

Meanwhile, Head of the Nature Conservation Agency of Riau at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Suharyono stated that his Ministry has set a target to increase the tigers’ population up to 25% among the 25 endangered species in accordance to the government’s Performance Indicator mandated by the Directorate General for Natural Resource and Ecosystem Conservation. Illegal trade still remains the greatest threat for tigers to survive in the wild. The illegal trade chain is built up long from the source to the final recipient. Laws must be enacted. Crimes against wildlife and pertaining to corruption must be abolished.

The Global Tiger Day is commemorated every 29^th July. It was firstly initiated at Saint Petersburg’s Tiger Summit in 2010. The purpose of commemorating the World Tiger Day is to raise the awareness of tiger conservation efforts.

Today's Mosaic of the Archipelago presents information: first, 90 youths of Banda Aceh are trained as generation of anti-drugs. The second information is that Batik Motif of Minang attracts consumers from outside West Sumatera. The last information of Mosaic of the Archipelago is that library of Yogyakarta adds collections with local contents.

The government of Banda Aceh city through Youth and Sport Office held training of youths of anti-drugs generation. The event was opened by Banda Aceh Mayor, Aminullah Usman in Banda Aceh on Wednesday (1/7). The training was participated in by 90 youths of representatives of 90 Gampong in Banda Aceh. When opening the event, Mayor Aminullah said that the role of people in eradicating drugs abuse in Banda Aceh and Aceh in general is really needed. He also explained that although the circulation of the drugs is not as many as other cities in Indonesia, Mayor Aminullah asks for Banda Aceh people to keep being alert. The training is hoped to be able to increase knowledge about the danger of drugs abuse. With the training, hopefully youth awareness on the danger of the drugs will increase and have desire to socialize to Gampong-gampong. Head of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency of Aceh, Brigadier General Faisal AN who attended the event, also called for the youths to be activists in fighting the drugs.

Various efforts are conducted by the regional government, including researcher of college to preserve wealth of regional culture, such as batik motif of Minang which is currently attracting consumers from outside of West Sumatera. The researcher of the Minang motif of Andalas University, Toti Srimulyati said to RRI on Wednesday (1/8/2018) that West Sumatera has wealth of resources which is unique. This is shown from various decorations of Rumah Gadang and another Songket. Andalas University has conducted research, and learned more since 2016 by inviting partners, the batik entrepreneurs of the region. Toti Srimulyati hoped that Minang motif is entrenched in West Sumatera and to socialize early, on August 30, selection of Batik Minang Youths will be held by targeting students of colleges in West Sumatera. Besides selection of the Best Batik Minang Youths, a training of Batik Minang with number of 20 participants is also carried out. From the event, it’s hoped to create Batik craftsmen who are with their persistence to be able to produce the best works of the regional Youths. Coaching is also conducted to Batik craftsmen who previously pursued Batik business with the hope, someday the products of micro, small and medium entrepreneurship will be able to penetrate international market.

The last information of Mosaic of the Archipelago is that library of Yogyakarta adds collections with local contents.

Library and Archives Office of Yogyakarta invited Chattra Kebaya community to launch new service of ALEKSA (There is Yogyakarta local collection). Acting Head of the Office, Wahyu Hendratmoko in the ALEKSA launching said in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (1/8) that the service is innovation at the library of Yogyakarta which presents library’s collection with Yogyakarta nuance. This is in line with the duty of the library to support the implementation of the center of local culture so that it will encourage the love of people on local culture. Wahyu added that over the last two, ALEKSA’s innovation has attracted attention of many parties. In addition to being exposed by many mass media, ALEKSA also succeeded to get support from the community. Meanwhile, Project leader of Aleksa in Yogyakarta, Ismawati Retno said after launching ALEKSA service that the service is innovation as sub-service of management of library’s collection containing Jogja in Yogyakarta. Ismawati Retno also explained that there are more than 300 book collections containing jogja. All of them are related to traditional culture, popular, regional potential, history, tourism, city’s architecture, literature, study of art culture and also result of Yogyakarta development from time to time and all information about Yogyakarta. In the future, her office plans to expand a number of collections through cooperation of all organizations of regional government in Yogyakarta. Later on if there is publication of the book about Yogyakarta, this can be granted. ALEKSA will also serve information about ancient script so that it is easier for people to know the ancient scripts of Yogyakarta Kingdom.

This is RRI World Service-Voice of Indonesia with Diplomatic Corner, a program which presents information about activities and progress of Indonesia’s diplomacy in the international world.

The first information comes from Lisbon. Indonesia successfully maintained the accomplishment of gold medal at the 2018 International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in Lisbon, Portugal on July the 28^th 2018. Indonesia won one gold medal, one silver and three bronze medals at the competition. Therefore, all delegates from Indonesia gained the medals. Johanes Suhardjo from Frateran Surabaya Christian High School won the gold medal. The silver medal was attained by Jason Jovi Brata from BPK Penabur I Christian Senior High School. Meanwhile, the bronze medals were obtained by Ahmad Aufar Thoriq from Semesta BBS Senior High School Semarang, Bryant Juspi from Darma Yudha Senior High School Pekanbaru, and Raditya Adhidarma Nugraha from State Senior High School One Yogyakarta. The International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) or also known as an International Olympiad on the subject of Physics was held from 21^st-29^th July 2018. High school students from 87 countries competed to achieve the highest score in the exam held by the committee of the International Physics Olympiad.

The second information is from Cairo. Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Helmy Fauzi received the 2018 Education and Culture Award in Cairo on Tuesday (31^st of July, 2018) at local time. Ambassador Helmy Fauzi was thought to have contributed for the development of education and culture in Egypt. The awarding ceremony was carried out by the Egyptian-Arab American Academy -EAAA. Besides Ambassador Helmy Fauzi, some other prominent figures who also received the awards are spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Abdul Gafar, President of the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Mahmud Shaqr, President of the Egyptian Council for Innovation and Technology, Jehan Farhat, and President of the Egyptian Parliament’s Education, Husin Ashmawi. President of the Egyptian-Arab American Academy, Samrah Abadzah told that the awards were given to appreciate the contributions of both International and national figures in their attempt to advance the field of education and culture in Egypt. Ambassador Helmy Fauzi also explained that the cooperation of education and culture is one of the important sectors in the diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Egypt, especially since the relations of Indonesia and Egypt have been established for more than 71 years. The government of Indonesia keeps developing the cooperation between Indonesia and Egypt in various fields in a bid to increase the prosperity of society in both countries. 

The last information of Diplomatic Corner is from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia encouraged the Micro, Small, and Medium Business Enterprises -UMKM of East Nusa Tenggara Province –NTT to expand the marketing of their products into the ASEAN market through digital economy. Directorate General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for ASEAN Cooperation, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Business Enterprises, and the Provincial Government of NTT held an event to deliver suggestions about the policy and technical guidance with the theme “The Utilization of Digital Economy to Support the Small and Medium Business Enterprises for the ASEAN Economic Community” at Fernandez Hall, in NTT on Wednesday (August the 1^st 2018). The event was aimed at supporting 40 Small and Business Enterprises of NTT in utilizing mobile technology to distribute their products in the ASEAN market. The technical guidance was organized by Shopee Indonesia, the first mobile-based start-up company in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan offering  e-commerce services via mobile phone. In the technical guidance, Shopee Indonesia gave tutorial how to create product illustrations which are visually attractive and commercially valuable and how to use online market place application to develop their businesses. The potential of Small and Medium Business Enterprises in NTT is abundant and distinctive, including cows, kelor leaves, weave, fishery, handicrafts, honey, coffee, and many others.

In ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) which was opened on Thursday, August 2^nd 2018, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi will struggle for the idea of the Indo-Pacific through more detailed explanation on AMM which would last until the next Saturday. Indonesia will also utilize Meeting of ASEAN Members with the dialogue partners to confirm and to carry on national concerns in various priority issues. The Indo-Pacific idea was initiated by Indonesia after looking the fight threat of the major countries in Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean, such as the USA, China, and India, Australia, and Japan, which would affect Southest Asian countries. Indonesia wants the Indo-Pacific issue to be discussed in the East Asia Summit which is also followed by major countries on August 4^th 2018.

Minister Retno will also explain the Indonesia concerns about the strengthening of cooperation in Indo-Pacific region. The issue is the strategic one for Indonesia and ASEAN region located in the middle or as axis of both regions, namely Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Indonesia will offer an outlook towards Indo-Pacific area which is aimed at improving cooperation in maritime, connectivity, and sustainable development agenda. The Indonesian concept is meant to be able to give added value for the mechanism of ASEAN cooperation which has been available nowadays, specifically to strengthen the East Asia Summit-EAS.

Basically, the concept of Indo-Pacific is aimed to optimize the architecture which has been established instead of forming the new architecture in ASEAN area. ASEAN is actually the right place in offering the Indo-Pacific idea with the inclusive values, cooperation, and the dialogue. In more than 50 years of its existence, ASEAN never threatens any party and does not have any tradition of confrontation.

By the dialogue tradition, ASEAN wants to convey to the major countries to accentuate the discussion in solving the different interests. ASEAN has to improve the crisis management capacity, specifically by solving faster the conflicts and the human rights.

The efforts of Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to keep doing so that the Indo-Pacific concept is more relevant in creating peace and regional safety not only in Pacific area  but also in Indian region. The support of ASEAN countries is needed so that the concept could be realized and enjoyed by the whole countries in both regions.