VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia visit to Central Java - 

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams PSM makes her first official visit to Central Java. During her visit, Ambassador Williams meet with the Deputy Governor of Central Java, Taj Yasin Maimoen and the Mayor of Semarang, Hendrar Prihadi.
“I am happy to be able to make my first official visit to Central Java, so that I can learn more and deepen relations with Australia,” said Ambassador Williams.
According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (14/03/22), the focus of this visit is to explore opportunities for cooperation in various sectors, including investment opportunities related to the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA) as the recovery of the two countries from the COVID-19 pandemic; and opportunities to collaborate in the education and culture.

“As the third largest province in Indonesia, with a dynamic business and education world, Central Java is an area that has a lot of potential. I am very interested in exploring these opportunities in an effort to build better economic and inter-community relations close relationship between Central Java and Australia.”
While in Semarang, Ambassador Williams will also visit the Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation Jakarta (JCLEC) and met with representatives from the Indonesian National Police and Australian Federal Police. JCLEC was founded by the governments of Australia and Indonesia in 2004. JCLEC has become the center important regional law enforcement training. More than 28,000 people from 80 countries have completed training at JCLEC in handling transnational crimes including terrorism, human trafficking and cybercrime//VOI

The Literacy Mother of Paser Regency for the 2022-2024 period - 

In the inauguration of Sinta Rosmayenti as the Literacy Mother of Paser Regency for the 2022-2024 period, the Head of the National Library of Indonesia, Muhammad Syarif Bando, stated that literacy mothers can encourage the reading culture of the community, especially the younger generation, which is the foundation of the nation's future. That way, literacy mothers support the younger generation in welcoming a bright future.

"I believe that God Almighty will always bless you in serving the nation and state and the people of Paser Regency," he said at the Paser Regency Hall, Tana Paser, Paser Regency, Monday (14/3/2022).

He explained that currently, literacy is not only one's ability to read and write. Literacy has a broad meaning, namely the depth of a person's knowledge that can later be used to create high-quality goods or services, and be able to compete in the international arena.

“Literacy talks about what we want to produce and can be widely marketed. Everything that has a high value must be expensive, but everything can be learned by reading, "explained Syarif Bando.

In a press release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (14/03/22), the Regent of Paser, Fahmi Fadli, revealed that although he is still struggling in developing reading interest and infrastructure, his party is always trying to improve the situation. This is done by establishing synergies with related parties.

"I believe holding this activity can be a starting point for the progress of Paser Regency," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR RI, Hetifah Sjaifudian, added that libraries are often underestimated. But now, with the program carried out by the National Library of Indonesia, namely the Transformation of Social Inclusion-Based Libraries, the library is transformed into a space for the public to gain knowledge. In addition, the library becomes the foundation of the community to improve their welfare.

"This does not mean that the role of schools and teachers is not important, but the library will become an alternative to formal education that is preferred to seek knowledge by self-study," he said//VOI

US President Joe Biden arrives aboard Air Force One at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Mar 11, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst) - 

The United States on Saturday (Mar 12) said it would rush up to US$200 million in additional small arms, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons to Ukraine, as Ukrainian officials pleaded for more equipment to defend against heavy shelling by Russian forces.

President Joe Biden on Saturday authorised the additional security assistance, the White House said, paving the way for the "immediate" shipment of fresh military equipment to Ukraine, a senior administration official said.

Biden's decision brings total US security aid provided to Ukraine to US$1.2 billion since January 2021, and to US$3.2 billion since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine, according to senior administration officials.

In a memorandum to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden directed that up to US$200 million allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act be designated for Ukraine's defense.

Blinken said he had authorised a fourth drawdown of US defense stocks, in line with Biden's directive, "to help Ukraine meet the armored, airborne, and other threats it is facing" as the war entered a third week.

He lauded the "great skill, iron will and profound courage" being shown by the Ukrainian armed forces and citizens, and said the United States would also continue to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need.

"The United States and our allies and partners stand in solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of the Kremlin’s aggression," he said in a statement. "The international community is united and determined to hold (Russian President Vladimir) Putin accountable."

Russia says it is engaged in a "special military operation" that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its neighbour's military capabilities and "de-Nazify" Ukraine.

The funds "will provide immediate military assistance to Ukraine, including anti-armor, anti-aircraft systems, and small arms in support of Ukraine’s front-line defenders", one of the US officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Ukraine has been asking for more Javelin anti-tank weapons and Stinger missiles to shoot down aircraft.

Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, on Saturday underscored Ukraine's need for additional military supplies in an interview with the non-profit Renew Democracy Initiative.

The United States has drawn from US weapons stocks to supply Ukraine repeatedly, beginning in the fall of 2021 and then again in December and February.

The last batch of US weapons provided in February included anti-armor, small arms, body armor and various munitions, according to the Pentagon, as well as anti-aircraft systems.

On Thursday night the US Congress approved US$13.6 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine as part of a YS$1.5 trillion measure to fund the US government through September//CNA

UN peacekeepers patrol the streets of Phnom Penh in an armoured personnel carrier, Cambodia on Aug 27, 1993. (Photo: Reuters) - 

Just over 30 years ago, a crackling radio in a refugee camp on the Thai border brought Sam Sophal word that the United Nations was coming to his war-ravaged homeland of Cambodia. 

For Sam Sophal, who survived the Khmer Rouge genocide only because his mother bribed Khmer Rouge executioners with her silver watch, the promise of peace was irresistible.

The UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) arrived on Mar 15, 1992, with great expectations, the first UN nation-building operation after the collapse of the Soviet Union sparked hope that democracy would flourish around the world.

But long before last year's shambolic fall of Afghanistan and the costly international missions in Iraq, Kosovo and elsewhere, Cambodia would serve as an early warning of the flaws and limitations of nation building. 

At the time, UNTAC was the most ambitious and expensive UN mission but despite its US$1.6 billion cost and US$20 billion in subsequent international aid, hopes of creating a vibrant democracy faded long ago.

"I felt very proud during the UNTAC time because I was the first generation to bring peace to Cambodia," says Sam Sophal, 60, who got a job as a translator with the mission soon after its launch.

"Now I see we have gone backwards. To one-party rule," he said under the shade of a Jujube tree in his Phnom Penh backyard.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, the same man in power before the UNTAC mission, remains leader, presiding over what critics call an authoritarian government with most opposition leaders in exile or in jail. 

Government spokesman Phay Siphan rejects accusations that Hun Sen is an autocrat, saying he has worked for peace and democracy since 1979.

The United Nations said in a statement UNTAC's original mandate of "restoring to the Cambodian people and their democratically elected leaders their primary responsibility for peace, stability, national reconciliation and reconstruction had been fulfilled". 

A prophecy that foretold of a "god with blue eyes" that would one day bless and restore the land had spread through villages during Cambodia's darkest years.

So when UNTAC arrived with their sky-blue flag and helmets they were seen as an incarnation of that deity, some even painting their homes a UN shade of blue, recalled Youk Chhang, executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia. 

UNTAC's main triumphs were bringing hundreds of thousands of refugees home from border camps in time for the May 1993 election, when almost 90 per cent of voters turned out//CNA