VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The 30 antiquities were looted, sold or illegally transferred by networks of American dealers and traffickers. (File photo: X/HSI New York) - 

VOInews, New York : New York prosecutors said on Friday (Apr 26) they had returned to Cambodia and Indonesia 30 antiquities that were looted, sold or illegally transferred by networks of American dealers and traffickers.

The antiquities were valued at a total of US$3 million, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said.

Bragg said in a statement that he had returned 27 pieces to Phnom Penh and three to Jakarta in two recent repatriation ceremonies, including a bronze of the Hindu deity Shiva ("Shiva Triad") looted from Cambodia and a stone bas-relief of two royal figures from the Majapahit empire (13th-16th century) stolen from Indonesia.

Bragg accused art dealers Subhash Kapoor, an Indian-American, and American Nancy Wiener in the illegal trafficking of the antiquities.

Kapoor, accused of running a network trafficking in items stolen in Southeast Asia for sale in his Manhattan gallery, has been the target of a US justice investigation dubbed "Hidden Idol" for more than a decade.

Arrested in 2011 in Germany, Kapoor was sent back to India where he was tried and sentenced in November 2022 to 13 years in prison.

Responding to a US indictment for conspiracy to traffic in stolen works of art, Kapoor denied the charges.

"We are continuing to investigate the wide-ranging trafficking networks that ... target Southeast Asian antiquities," Bragg said in the statement.

"There is clearly still much more work to do."

Wiener, sentenced in 2021 for trafficking in stolen works of art, sought to sell the bronze Shiva but eventually donated the piece to the Denver (Colorado) Museum of Art in 2007.

The antiquity was seized by the New York courts in 2023.

During Bragg's tenure, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit has recovered nearly 1,200 items stolen from more than 25 countries and valued at more than US$250 million.

New York is a major trafficking hub, and several works have been seized in recent years from museums, including the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art, and from collectors//CNA-VOI

The logo of the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) at the HI roundabout, Jakarta, on Sunday, March 24, 2024. Indonesia will host this forum with the theme of "Water for Shared Prosperity" in Bali on May 18-25, 2024. (ANTARA/Aprillio Akbar/foc/rst) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Indonesia would be able to explore, learn, and develop weather forecast management to tackle extreme climates at the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister's Expert Staff Firdaus Ali stated.

"At the forum, we can further explore, learn, and develop the role of weather forecast to deal with extreme climates," he remarked on Saturday.

Ali made the statement when asked about WWF's role in helping Indonesia to mitigate the impact of extreme weather on domestic food security.

He noted that weather and climate are predictable phenomena, unlike earthquakes which cannot be predicted when it will occur and how strong it will be.

Hence, he expressed hope that study in data management and development in weather forecast would help Indonesia to anticipate extreme climates and mitigate impacts in the community.

In order to provide a forum for various countries to exchange ideas, Indonesia is proposing the development of a center of excellence or best practices for water and climate resilience called the Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience (COE).

“Indonesia has the facilities and infrastructures. We need international collaboration and support from donor countries," he remarked.

Earlier, Expert Staff to PUPR Minister for Technology, Industry, and the Environment, Endra S. Atmawidjaja, stated that Indonesia would propose the establishment of a COE at the 2024 WWF to deal with water management due to climate change.

He then highlighted the existence of the Sabo Training Center in Sleman District, Yogyakarta, which could become part of the COE in future.

With the development of the Sabo Training Center, Atmawidjaja believes Yogyakarta can accommodate Southern countries to learn water management and climate resilience//Antara-VOI

A number of tourists visited Tolire Lake in Takome Village, Ternate, North Maluku, Sunday (3/3/2024). The Ternate City Government is focusing on developing the tourism sector, one of which is arranging supporting facilities at the Tolire Lake tourist attraction using APBD funds worth IDR 15 billion because the area is one of the destinations most visited by tourists both from within and outside the country which is expected to encourage an increase in tourist visits and stimulate the community's economy. ANTARA PHOTOS/Andri Saputra/Spt - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Indonesian government is boost the establishment of World Lakes Day at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali on 18-25 May 2024. This determination is one of the four points of the proposal brought by Indonesia to be adopted as a United Nations (UN) resolution.

This was stated by the Deputy Chair of the Secretariat of the 10th World Water Forum National Organizing Committee and Expert Staff to the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) for Technology, Industry and the Environment, Endra S. Atmawidjaja, Saturday (27/4/2024).

"We want to schedule World Lake Days. This is what we are proposing through the UN General Assembly mechanism so that the decision can later be adopted as a UN resolution," said Endra.

The need to establish World Lakes Day is motivated by the condition of lakes in the world, including Indonesia, which is in the critical category. Lakes which function as water reservoirs also need to be maintained so that water availability for the entire world community is met.

"Our lakes act as extraordinary water reservoirs. We take great pains to build dams, but we have to take care of the natural water reservoirs themselves, namely lakes," said Endra.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday (27/04/24), the government has also prepared a draft of the Bali Declaration which contains Indonesia's targets for producing concrete follow-up actions following the implementation of the 10th World Water Forum, one of which is the establishment of World Lakes Day through a UN resolution.

Then the establishment of the Center of Excellence on Water and Climate Resilience, and mainstreaming water management issues for developing countries on small islands.

Finally, recording a list of water projects as an inclusive but voluntary Compendium of Concrete Deliverables and Actions. The Compendium will contain a list of projects, initiatives and collaborations managed by national, regional and international water stakeholders. Indonesia will also prepare an online platform for the submission process.

Previously, Chairman of the Secretariat of the National Committee Organizing the 10th World Water Forum and Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Mohammad Zainal Fatah revealed that the ministerial level declaration was currently in the final draft stage which was ready to be presented at the 10th World Water Forum.

"We are at the final draft stage which they have approved and that way, at the forum, we just have to declare that this is a joint commitment," Zainal.

The draft Bali Declaration was carried out in consultation with parties, including the World Water Council facilitated by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The Indonesian government together with the World Water Council have prepared a series of meeting forums leading up to the peak event of the 10th World Water Forum. The forum consists of three main processes, namely political, regional/regional, and thematic. The synergy of these three processes is needed in an effort to realize water as a means for shared prosperity//VOI

The World Book Day Rumah Dunia with the theme "Voice Your Ideas Through Books" launch by Indonesian National Library in Banten (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Serang, Banten : In the context of World Book Day 2024, National Library Press Publisher launched 15 book titles on Saturday (27/4) at the Rumah Dunia Auditorium in Serang City, Banten Province.

This activity was packaged as World Book Day Rumah Dunia with the theme "Voice Your Ideas Through Books" resulting from the collaboration of the Rumah Dunia Community and National Library Press as well as the support of various stakeholders who care about the progress of the world of books and literacy.

“Every April 23, we celebrate books. In the community, in a cafe, or alone by uploading it on social media. World Book Day, just to celebrate and congratulate? Is that all? "Don't celebrate by launching your own latest book," challenged Gol A Gong, Founder of Rumah Dunia.

World Book Day is the perfect time to celebrate the power of books to change lives, connect people and build civilization. Everyone can interpret World Book Day in different ways, but the essence of the celebration is a love of books and a commitment to supporting literacy.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday (27/04/24), the series of World Book Day activities was held for two days (27-28 April) include discussions and book launches, sharing sessions, cheap book bazaars, book door prizes, art performances and other literacy activities.

The first day was filled with book launching and interactive dialogue between book and literacy stakeholders. A total of 114 book titles were launched and 15 of them were books published by Perpusnas Press.

In the sharing session, resource persons were Edi Wiyono, Chief Editor of National Library Press and Firman Venayaksa, literacy activist and also Head of the Untirta Library, Banten, guided by moderator Gol A Gong, Indonesian Reading Ambassador.

Edi Wiyono appreciated the collaborative work between the National Library through the National Library Press Publishers and Rumah Dunia in celebrating World Book Day.

“Books and literacy are two inseparable dimensions. If you want people's literacy to improve, don't forget about providing literacy content. And one of them comes from books. The launch of more than 100 book titles can be a shared spirit in building a better book ecosystem, especially with authors. "Because the history of World Book Day itself was born because it was related to the figure of a writer as well," said Edi.

Meanwhile, Firman Venayaksa emphasized that World Book Day should also be celebrated by parties who are close to books and literacy. One of them is the library.

"The library is not only a place to buy books, not only as a consumer of reading materials. But must be a producer of knowledge. And that can be translated into giving birth to writings and intellectual works. "Books are one form of generating this knowledge," he added.

Approximately 100 participants attended the first day of World Book Day at Rumah Dunia which was centered in the Rumah Dunia Auditorium. Participants come from literacy activists, the TBM Forum community, Regional Reading Ambassadors, literary/cultural communities.

Some participants came from outside Banten, such as several TBM activists from Kuningan, West Java, writers from Labuhan Batu, North Sumatra, from Lampung and there were participants from Papua.

The 15 book titles published by Perpusnas Press and launched in this activity, the authors have diverse backgrounds. There are bureaucrats such as Plt. Governor, librarian, literacy activist and journalist. Several books resulting from the Indonesian Reading Ambassador writing class.

"We writers, finalists for outstanding librarians, are certainly happy because we can share our knowledge in managing and innovating in the field of librarianship, which will lead us to become finalists for national outstanding librarians in 2023. Hopefully this book will inspire all librarians to continue working for the advancement of literacy in our beloved country ," said Juznia Andriani, one of the authors of the book Steps to Achievement Librarians.

Another statement came from Benny Benke, author of the books Selling the Kaaba and Scattered Stories.

"I'm happy that my book can be published by Perpusnas Press. Moreover, it could be part of a book launched on World Book Day 2024. Several friends asked why it was not published in print. "But I think ebooks and free ones are much more effective for reading," said the man who is also a journalist.

The following are 15 titles and authors whose books were launched at the World Book Day event Rumah Dunia: Selling the Kaaba and Scattered Stories (Benny Benke), The Road to the Capital of the Archipelago with Regional Support Partners (Dr. Safrizal ZA, M. Si), Women in Paper and the Things They Fought For (Aminah Tresno, et al), Waggak-Lenggak Dance of Zapin Meskom Bengkalis Village (Dahrial Iskandar, S.IP), Sangkala Panderman Where We Tell Stories (Mochammad Alif Syahrur Ramadhan), Ronggiang Sakabek Arek (Harlita, S.Pd), Playing Cak Bur (Puspa Dani, S.Pd), Angel of the Earth and Other Stories (Ade Viga Widyanti Utami, et al), Stories and Hope from Kubu Raya (Iza Kalola, et al), Tau Statue Tau Toraja South Sulawesi (Suherman), Urban Management in Indonesia (Dr. Safrizal ZA, M.Si), Steps to Achievement Librarians (Amma Naningrum et al), Librarian Initiative (Abdul Gani, et al), The Multitalent Librarian (Alfa Noranda, et al) and the Air Defense System for the Archipelago Capital (IKN) (Sapuan).

The books that have been launched can be accessed digitally and downloaded in full text on the SiPENA (Publishing Information System) page https://press.perpusnas.go.id and on the iPusnas digital library platform//VOI