VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOnews, Jakarta: The celebration of the 217th Anniversary of the Jakarta Archdiocese serves as proof of the Indonesian nation's success in nurturing and preserving unity and integrity, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Syaiful Rahmat Dasuki stated.

Quoting from Antara, Dasuki affirmed that the participation of thousands of interfaith and intercultural people in a six-kilometer walk around the Jakarta Cathedral reflects the well-fostered unity and integrity in the country.

"In this activity, people from different ethnicities are wearing traditional attires, reaffirming the Indonesian nation's passion for interfaith tolerance, unity, and integrity," he remarked at the Jakarta Cathedral on Saturday.

Dasuki expressed hope that all religious organizations and groups would emulate the activity to ensure the resilience of people's unity and love for the motherland in the midst of this era of rapid changes.

"The Ministry of Religious Affairs surely appreciates this event," he noted.

On the same occasion, spokesperson of the Jakarta Archdiocese Susyana Suwadie remarked that the commemorative walk drew participation from over three thousand people.

She said the participants comprised not only representatives of parishes in Jakarta but also members of interfaith organizations and communities in the city and surrounding regions.

"The number of participants (this year) is higher than that of previous years," she pointed out.

Suwadie then noted that during the celebration, the participants expressed their creativity by performing traditional art performances, such as Ondel-ondel Betawi and Reog Ponorogo.Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized the need for interfaith communities in Indonesia to continue to build harmony, promote peace, and spread messages of love. 

She then noted that such positive values have been continuously endorsed by the Jakarta Archdiocese since its establishment on May 8, 1807. VOI/Antara

VOINews, Jakarta: The Indonesian Army (AD) plans to station 4,463 personnel to secure the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) in Bali.

As reported by Antara, Head of the TNI AD Information Service, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, stated that the personnel deployed will comprise a combination from various units, including the IX/Udayana Military Command (Kodam).

"The TNI AD personnel involved in WWF security are 4,463 personnel, and 2,530 of them are from Kodam IX/Udayana," he told ANTARA on Saturday.

According to Sianturi, the Indonesian Navy personnel will also cooperate with the Indonesian Air Force and Navy units to secure the high-level conference in Bali.

He stated that the Indonesian Army troops would be located at several crucial guard points and equipped with complete main weapons systems.

Apart from securing the activities, Sianturi ensured that all TNI AD troops would behave humanely and serve the community and the World Water Forum participants during the event.

Earlier, the TNI Headquarters would also deploy 12 thousand special personnel to secure the forum.

"They will be carrying out security and health services during the forum," Head of the TNI Information Center, Major General Nugraha Gumilar, stated on April 29.

The 10th WWF would take place on May 18-25, 2024. Security measures will start a week earlier as a form of monitoring.

Apart from land security, Gumilar revealed that his side would also secure air and sea areas around the Bali seas.

"We are deploying KRI (warships) in the Bali Strait and Lombok Strait," he remarked.

The TNI will also provide several aircraft to conduct evacuations if a natural disaster were to occur during the event.

"We prepared aircraft for evacuation if a natural disaster occurs, such as the Mount Agung eruption," he added.

Health workers are also provided by the TNI to anticipate casualties from natural disasters that occur in Bali.

The 10th WWF is an international forum with the involvement of several stakeholders in the water resources sector, ranging from the government, parliament, political leaders, multilateral institutions, politicians, academics, civil society, to business actors.

The forum this year carries the theme of "Water for Shared Prosperity" and will discuss several sub-themes, namely water security and prosperity; water for humans and nature; disaster risk reduction and management; water governance, cooperation, and diplomacy; sustainable water financing; and knowledge and innovation. VOI/Antara

VOI News, Jakarta: Indonesian Navy soldiers from the 1st Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion (Yontaifib) and the United States Marines on Friday wrapped up a series of reconnaissance and infiltration exercises under the "Reconnaissance Exchange" (Reconex) Joint Exercise 2024.

The two units underwent a series of closing exercises ranging from long-range navigation exercises to complete infiltration exercises (full mission profile) from May 8–10, 2024.

Commander of Marine Troops (Danpasmar) 1, Brigadier General Umar Farouq, emphasized that joint training between Indonesian and United States Marine troops would not stop at the 2024 Reconex.

"There will be many more exercises between the two units," he informed while reviewing the training on Thursday, according to an official statement released on Friday.

As part of a series of full mission profile exercises on Damar Island since Thursday, Amphibious Reconnaissance soldiers from the two countries practiced infiltrating enemy areas, paralyzing targets, freeing prisoners, and treating and evacuating combat victims, followed by exfiltrating, or leaving the enemy area after completing the mission.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday (May 8), the soldiers trained in long-range navigation, a cross-surface infiltration technique using rubber boats (seariders).

In a separate official statement issued by the US Embassy in Indonesia, Commander of Alfa Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps, Captain Ethan Hamilton, informed that the Reconex training was a unique opportunity for soldiers from the two countries to build mutual trust.

According to him, the joint exercise aimed to improve the capabilities of the two countries' reconnaissance forces in terms of tactics, techniques, and procedures in a hostile environment.

The Reconex training is a joint exercise that is held routinely by the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps every one–two years.

This year, the training took place from April 25–May 10. It was attended by 120 soldiers from the 1st Yontaifib of the Indonesian Navy's Marine Corps and 20 soldiers from the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Marine Division of the US Marine Corps.

Besides Damar Island, the Reconex training was also held in several other locations, namely Marine Combat Training Center (Puslatpur) 6 Antralina, Sukabumi, West Java; the Pondok Cabe Airbase in Tangerang, Banten; and the Indonesian Armed Forces Training Command in Jakarta. (Antara)

VOI News, Jakarta: TNI AU Staff Deputy Chief, Vice Marshal Andyawan Martono, discussed joint training plans with Japan Air Self-Defense Deputy Chief, Lieutenant General Takuto Ogaswara, alongside the 2024 Air and Space Conference in Canberra, Australia, May 9.

"The two officials discussed the possibility of joint exercise between the two air forces," as quoted from the Indonesian Air Force's official statement on Friday.

The Indonesian Air Force welcomes the Japanese military to conduct joint exercises. This will be beneficial for Indonesia to gain new perspective and combat experience with Japan.

In addition, both nations can share knowledge on war strategies and technology of the main weapons systems, according to the statement.

This cooperation in the military sector will also strengthen the long-standing sound relations between Indonesia and Japan.

Hence, the Indonesian Air Force ranks hope that the joint military air training activities would be completed shortly.

Earlier, Indonesian Minister of Defense, Prabowo Subianto, and his Japanese counterpart, Minoru Kihara, discussed several matters during their meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on April 3, including those related to defense cooperation, one of which was continuing cadet exchanges and issues related to the Indo-Pacific region.

Prabowo is optimistic that defense cooperation between the two countries would continue to increase based on the success of earlier programs.

"I previously met with the Japanese minister of defense and asked to send cadets from Indonesia, starting with two people. After that, I asked for another batch, and we have sent four people in total," Prabowo told Kihara at the meeting.

Minister Kihara also conveyed his stance against all unilateral decisions and changes that could increase tensions in the South China Sea.

He believes that Japan and Indonesia, as maritime countries, can work together to ensure the implementation of law in maintaining the Indo-Pacific as a free and open region. (Antara)