VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In today’s Book and Film Review, we will review an Indonesian novel entitled, “Semua Ikan di Langit” or in English means “All Fishes in the Sky”, written by Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie. Ziggy is a young Indonesian writer who won a writing competition held by an Indonesian publisher, Grasindo – Gramedia. Ziggy may be a shy girl who does not want her identity get exposed, but her works are simply amazing. For instance, in “Semua Ikan di Langit”, Ziggy used a language style that cannot be found in other novels. Her imagination is quite high, like when she depicted a bus which can travel in the skies and even through dimension and time.

The story told by Ziggy broadens readers’ horizon. Meticulous depictions of every character are very imaginative, yet still completely make sense. The readers can imagine the shape of the bus told by Ziggy, and even its passengers. In an interview with Voice of Indonesia, Ziggy shared us about that.

“…The premise of the story is actually pretty simple it’s centered around a bus humanist adventure on a space time travel got it by a curious boy who’s floating in the air and has a lot of fish hands the title and along the way they made a lot of visitation, they pick up passengers since the character is a bus so we still have the purpose in that but other than that it’s pretty much open for interpretation some like to make try to find a different meaning behind the story but some just take it as it is. I would like to let people interpret it on their own so I try not to answer the questions about what it actually means, I really like to reserve that right, the right to interpret to the readers.” Ziggy explain.

The main character in “Semua Ikan di Langit” is even a bus which operates in Bandung, West Java. Instead of humans, its passengers are a mother roach who just gave birth to five babies in a lab; then, a school of halfbeak fishes swimming around the bus, which enable the bus to fly; and apparently a boy who provides power for the fishes, so that the bus can travel in time and space. It is impossible for such imagination to be found in short time.

“…Well there’s actually a lot of consideration regarding the character. I realize that it’s not common for a bus narrate a story but I have a lot of consideration whether it’s personal and also conceptual, visual and off course symbolic meaning behind it but it really connect with how you will interpret the story so it’s just that there’s a lot of consideration behind it, I’m just going to leave it like that.” Ziggy added.

In the beginning, readers may be confused with the story, but not after they pass through page 64. The vague story turns clear. “Semua Ikan di Langit” has 259 pages and is apparently unique for its ability to describe the bitter sweetness of human life. There is no idea why Ziggy created those characters in her novel. But, what does Ziggy want to say through her peculiar story?

“…Well first of all thank you, as I said the message behind the story is very simple. The story have a lot of different part but they serve specific purposes but the whole think actually balls down to a very simple moral value which is just to be kind to one another regardless of anything. I mean the story is essentially a love story it’s just that it’s not a romantic story it’s not about a boy and a girl fell in love and all the disaster they have to overcome.  It’s universal love and it’s just talking about affection that goes beyond boundaries and this is what I want to conveyed to people that it can exist.” Ziggy said.

“Semua Ikan di Langit” or “All Fishes in the Sky” which successfully won competition evidently has love in it. Every single word in this book turns into intriguing story that people may find it quite deep. Readers can find a story of peace amidst the chaotic world, where love for fellow human beings still exists. Alright listener, that was our brief review of a novel entitled “Semua Ikan di Langit” or “All Fishes in the Sky” written by Ziggy Zezsyazeoviennazabrizkie.

Diplomatic Corner, a segment presents Indonesian diplomatic activities both at home and abroad.

First information is from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Indonesian drama movie, Posesif becomes the opening film of the organization of SCENECS International Film Festival 2018 held on June 22-29 in Hilversum media and film centers in the Netherlands. Vue Movie Theater located in the center of the city is decorated like a great movie festival of the world. The red carpet stretches all the way to Vue's main door. Large backdrop for photo taking is provided, and completed with bright lights. Meanwhile, gold and black balloons strung together, adorn the entrance of the reception hall.

SCENECS International Film Festival 2018 started at 20:00 local time, with dance performance by InaDancewhich presents traditional Betawi dance combined with modern dance. Indonesia Ambassador to Kingdom of Netherlands, I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja opened the festival officially with Director of SCENECS, Arya Tarivedi and members of the Hilversum City Council on Media and Culture, Wimar Jaeger. In his speech, Ambassador Wesaka Puja said that since 2015, Indonesian governmenthas opened 100 percent of foreign investment in the film industry.Since then, more and more new films have been produced.After the opening speech and official opening of the festival, the event was continued with ‘Posesif’ film screenings, followed by Q&A with producer, Muhammad Zaidy. SCENECS is an annual international debut film festivalof international scale. This year is the 12th one. Through the festival, performers, directors, and film producers along with a beginner documentary can show their first or second works to the Dutch public.

Next information is from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Indonesia's participation in World of Coffee 2018 held in Amsterdam, June 21-23, booked a transaction value of more than $5.7 million dollars or equivalent to Rp80 billion. Five companies and coffee exporters that participated in World of Coffee, namely Specialty Coffee Association Indonesia, Blanco Indonesia Coffee, Bintang Lima Pasifik, Gayo Mandiri, and Arisarina Aceh Cooperative booked the transaction. The transaction value is derived from a number of business dealings of Indonesian exporters with companies from various countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany, England, Switzerland, Belarus, until companies from South America, such as Brazil and Chile. Coffee types of interest also vary, such as Robusta Lampung, Arabica Gayo, Arundaya, Lintong, Kintamani, and Toraja. Indonesia's participation in World of Coffee 2018 is a synergy from the Indonesia Embassy of The Hague, Indonesia Embassy of Brussels, and Indonesian Mission of Geneva, supported by the participation of Indonesian coffee associations, companies and exporters. Indonesian Pavilion was also enlivened by the participation of Garuda Indonesia which is also committed to supporting the increase of Indonesian products export abroad, including coffee products. This collaboration is expected to further increase the value of Indonesian coffee exports to European countries and the world.

Last information is from Jakarta, Indonesia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir said in Jakarta last Friday (22/6) that there are some agenda of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi this week. For example, she attends the 3rd Ministerial Conference of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) in Bangkok, June 26-27. She also received the first visit of East Timor President, Francisco Guterres to Indonesia on Thursday (28/6). Minister Retno Marsudi attended CEAPAD in a bid to increase effective technical assistance for the Palestinians. Arrmanatha Nasir also stated that for Indonesia, the struggle for Palestinian independence is one of Indonesia's foreign policy priorities. Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Egypt, Palestine, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Jordan attend the CEAPAD Forum. Besides, five international organizations also attend the forum. They are Islamic Development Bank, The United Nations Office for Palestinian Refugees, and the World Bank.

Here are the Headlines of several national newspapers published today, June 26 2018.

We begin with Kompas newspaper which writes, “Voters’ Rationality Awaited.”

People’s awareness in the upcoming Regional Election to elect candidates who are capable to increase people’s service and welfare is urgently needed. If those elected do not have such ability, it is not onlyregional welfare but also democracy will be sacrificed. The Global State of Democracy 2017 by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) showed relation between democracy and development and public service. The people assess their real relation with the country through government’s ability in providing public services such as health, education, jobs, security, and justice.

The government’s ability to provide those services is crucial in maintaining the endurance of democracy. In the current regional autonomy era, regional government quality greatly affects public perception about state’s presence. Therefore, it is important for regions to be led by figures that can fulfill public’s hope. It was because many regions fail to develop due to the leaders’ lack of innovationandpartiality to the people, and only think about self or group’s interest during their serving time.

Moving on to Media Indonesia entitle, “Reject the Money, Reject the Candidate.”

The statement of Gerindra Party Chairman Prabowo Subianto who suggested the people to accept money politics continuesto create public outcry. Some who were contacted by Media Indonesia yesterday “regretted” Prabowo’s statement. Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Commissioner Mochammad Afifuddin affirmed, giving and receiving money during 2018 Regional Election is prohibited. It was according to Law No. 10, 2016 on Regional Election.

We end the Headline with Republika which writes, “Erdogan Gets Stronger.”

Recep Tayyip Erdogan strengthened again his leadership in Turkey through Turkey Presidential and Parliamentary Election 2018 on Sunday (24/6). Turkey Supreme Electoral Council officially announced that Erdogan gained most votes and will lead Turkey for the next five years. With 99 percent of counted votes until Monday (25/6/2018), Erdogan gained 52.5 percent compared to their closest rival, Murharrem Ince who gained 30.7 percent votes. Erdogan’s party, Turkey Justice and Development Party or AK Partyalso gained 42.5 percent during the legislative election. Then, they will build majority coalition with Nationalist Movement Party which received 11 percent.

On Wednesday, June 27, 2018, 11 provinces, 115 districts and 39 cities are about to hold simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) across Indonesia. According to the General Elections Commission -KPU, up to now the preparation of the elections has been good enough. Even, Chairman of the Commission, Arief Budiman affirmed that 2 days ago, there were no reports related to interference that might hamper the plan of this grand democratic activity.

To prepare for smooth, safe and neutral elections, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Wiranto has held a coordination meeting which was attended by the Chairman of the General Elections Commission, the Chairman of the Election Supervisory Board, the TNI Commander and the Police Chief a few days ago.

Although all the preparations for the implementation, including security have been carried out, Indonesian people and the government should not be negligent. All related stakeholders must remain vigilant to take care of the implementation of simultaneous Regional Head Election.

It is not impossible that a recent court verdict over Aman Abdurrahman, the leader of Jemaah Ansharut Daulah -JAD affiliated with ISIS, will spark an act of revenge. This can be committed by new followers or members of the JAD established by Aman. New sympathizers who studied JAD ideology for a few months are assumed to have new fighting spirit, and they may commit revenge attacks. The target is feared to emerge in a number of areas that will hold regional head elections, especially areas where people are made up of various ethnicities or races.

More recently, Indonesian Anti-Terror Special Detachment 88 –Densus 88 arrested Rizki Maulana (MM) in Depok, West Java. He is suspected of having links with JAD Bogor and is suspected of committing terror during the implementation of Regional Head Election in West Java. In addition, still in the same area, Densus 88 also shot dead two suspected terrorists with initials AS (29) and AZW alias MRS (31). They are said to have attended military training with ISIS Commander for Southeast Asia from Indonesia, Bahrumsyah.

The Densus 88 had to shoot them, because in the raid process, the two suspected terrorists tried to rebel. They attacked and threatened the officers' lives by using knife and revolver.

Both cases show that terrorists’ threats during the election may occur. Therefore, the cooperation between the people and the security forces must be improved in a bid to implement the Regional Head Elections smoothly, safely and honestly.