VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

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

First information is from Osaka, Japan. The 60th Anniversary Concert of Indonesia Diplomatic Relations and Japan is held at the Sofia Orchestra Building, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan (24/6). The concert presents music groups of children and prominent students from both countries. The Resonanz Children's Choir (TRCC) and Keluarga Paduan Angklung SMA 3 Bandung (KPA3) who came directly from Indonesia with Sakai Daiko group from Osaka with traditional Japanese music instrument, Taiko entertained about 750 audiences. In the concert, TRCC amazed the audiences with vocal and attractive choreography bringing Japanese songs like Sakura and Sakura Yo, Indonesia traditional songs namely Yamko Rambe Yamko, Bungong Jeumpa, and Janger until overseas songs, including ‘We Will Rock You’ and Segalariak.

Indonesia Consulate General in Osaka, Mirza Nurhidayat in his speech with Mayor of Sakai and Head of the Parliament of Sakai City Region said that in this momentum of 60 years of diplomatic relations, his side had to be able to optimize together to strengthen the cooperation between Indonesia and Japan in various fields. The event was organized by Indonesia Consulate General in Osaka in collaboration with Sakai City Government, Osaka Prefecture and supported by PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) and among Indonesian entrepreneurs.

Next information is from Frankfurt. Indonesia Consulate General in Frankfurt opened Indonesian course for German speakers. As quoted from press information received in Jakarta, Tuesday, Indonesia Consulate General in Frankfurt this year is implementing the program of Indonesian language level A2 in the Consulate General Frankfurt Building. The course uses Indonesian book for foreign speakers “Sahabatku Indonesia” or "My friend, Indonesia" from Indonesia Ministry of Education and Culture in 2016. The Indonesia course program is one of the Consulate's efforts to introduce Indonesian language and culture to German society. Indonesia Consulate General in Frankfurt hoped in the future there will be more and more German people who are interested to know and deepen the language and culture of Indonesia.

We end Diplomatic Corner from Poiters, France. Indonesia-France bilateral cooperation in science, technology, higher education, research and innovation is part of the two countries' strategic partnership formed in 2011. The various forms of implementation referred to are discussed through the Joint Working Group (JWG) forum of education in order to establish a form of real operational cooperation between the two countries. The JWF Forum is now entering its tenth implementation, which runs from June 26-28, 2018 in Poitiers City, France.

The delegation of the Indonesian government is led by Director General of Institutional Science and Technology and Higher Education from Indonesia Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education, Dr. Patdono Suwignjo. In his speech, Indonesia Ambassador to Paris, Dr. Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan appreciated the cooperation that has been established so far. The JWG is a strategic forum to continuously strengthen cooperation in the field of higher education, research, and innovation of Indonesia and France. He added, the JWG is a reflection of the commitment of both countries to the values of democracy, human rights, tolerance and justice for integrated and sustainable development, whether political, economic, defense, security, education, culture, and environment. The development is closely watched by Indonesia Ambassador as a key to the active participation of both countries and for global world order.

The Indonesian government continues to support and facilitate the JWG mission since it was first held. Besides discussion among researchers, there are also corporate and business dialogue sessions related to technology and science transfer. This is one way that educational, research and innovation cooperation can bring good economic benefits to the public.

Mosaic of Archipelago, Thursday, June 28, 2018 presents information about ‘Supports Supervision of Local Government Apparatus, Regent of Sorong, Head of the Sorong State Prosecutor's Office and Chief of Police Sorong to Sign MoU’. The next information is that ‘Increasing Production of Rice and Corn at Pesisir Selatan Regency’. The last information is ‘to Digest Information Wisely’.

Sorong Regency Government signed Memorandom of Understanding (MoU) with State Attorney of Sorong and Police Resort of Sorong about coordination of the Government Internal Supervisory Authority (APIP) with Law Enforcement Officials (APH) related to the handling of reports or public complaints in the implementation of Sorong Regency Government. The signing was done on Tuesday (26/6) in the office room of the Regent of Sorong.

Regent of Sorong, Johny Kamuru said through the MoU, any complaints or reports from the public will be handled by the police and the prosecutor's office and the charges of negative complaints will be processed according to existing law. Chief of Police in Sorong, Dewa Made Sidan Sutrahna appreciated the initiative of the Sorong government that has taken positive steps in handling reports or complaints from the residents. While Head of Sorong State Prosecutor’s Office, Ahmad Muhdhor said that this is a follow-up of the memorandum of understanding at the central level of the Attorney General, Police, and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The hope is that all the problems faced at the local level can be resolved properly.

Pesisir Selatan is an area with a large agricultural area, but it is still constrained with less irrigation. Territorial Head of Territorial Command 032 Wirabraja, Infantry Colonel Asep Apandi said to RRI on Wednesday (27/6) that Pesisir Selatan has a large area to increase the production of rice, corn and soybeans from year to year. He added that the production of soybeans has not been so prominent due to various factors. However, the government and Bintara Pembina Desa (Babinsa) in the region continue to develop the commodity to balance the production of rice and corn as the set target. From the beginning of production to the handling of pests, Indonesian Army through the region's Babinsa helps the residents increase its agricultural production. People in the region are greatly helped by the mentoring program. In the future, it is expected that rice production in Pesisir Selatan Regency can match other areas, such as Solok and Tanah Datar. Therefore, various efforts have been carried out to address the problems faced by local farmers, including irrigation problems.

We end Mosaic of Archipelago with Digesting Information Wisely.

Commander of the Main Base of the Indonesian Navy - Commander of the Navy Main Base II, First Admiral of Indonesian Army, Agus Sulaeman emphasized that his soldiers and state civil servants -PNS in the Navy Main Base II always address the information well and wisely, that develops in social media. Soldiers must be able to sort and distinguish between the right and the wrong information. Soldiers should be able to select information that is rolling rapidly today in addition to the hard prohibition of not practicing politics. Agus Sulaeman said to RRI in Padang, Wednesday (27/6) that Indonesia is a country that has a variety of tribes, religions, skin colors, languages, geographical locations and diverse customs. It is important to avoid things that can trigger conflict between religions and also between groups. Another important thing is the obedience of soldiers to all kinds of regulations, as well as traffic rules and avoids other fatal things like drug abuse.

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.