VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Education and Culture will register the Spice Route as a world heritage to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

"We are ready to propose the Spice Route to UNESCO in November 2020. The Spice Route is an Indonesian identity program that many people have forgotten," Ananto K Seta, Chairman of the Spice Route Program Committee of the Ministry said on Monday.

He said that the ministry is cooperating with countries that also have a history of spice trails, including Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, and Grenada.

Ananto said that the proposal is not just a legacy from the past 4,500 years, but also a possible land rejuvenation, herbal medicine industry, and tourism packages.

The ministry will reconstruct spice trade in the archipelago which lasted 4.5 millennia ago, hoping to encourage the national economy.

Ananto said there are two reasons to revive the Spice Route program since Indonesia is one of the places on earth chosen by God for having spices.

"For example, nutmeg in Banda Island, Maluku, and cloves in Ternate, North Maluku. Both spices have contributed to the history of world civilization," he said.

The spice route was also the forerunner of commodity trade carried out by the Indonesian ancestors and tribes. The route starts from east to west. At each point of transit, cultural assimilation occurred which then formed the nation. They also went to several countries in various parts of the world.

The Spice Route Program was actually initiated several years ago. However, in 2020 it was proposed again.

Ananto said they have prepared the steps to complete the requirements to apply to the UN agency, targeting 2024 or 2025, The Spice Route will be declared a world heritage. (Antaranews)

The Minister of Religion Affairs Fachrul Razi is confirmed positive with the Covid-19. He is reportedly in good condition.

"On Sep. 17, the Minister had a swab test and got a positive result. But thank God, his physical condition is good so far. There are no worrying symptoms," Kevin Haikal, Special Staff of the Minister said on Monday.

"The Minister is undergoing isolation. We ask for prayers from the community so the Minister can recover quickly. Hopefully, the next swab result is negative, so the Minister can continue his duties," he continued.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Religion, Oman Fathurahman, added that the Minister will focus on isolation and health recovery for now.

The Minister has delegated his bureaucratic duties to the Deputy Minister of Religion Affairs and has coordinated to related officials.

"The focus program of the Minister right now is helping to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in religious education and institutions. He asked to continue it. He also asked to send on-target social aid," Oman said.

Oman said the Minister also appealed to the public to comply with government recommendations in implementing health protocols.

"Anyone can get infected by Covid-19, no exception. Let's empathize and strengthen each other to comply with health protocols. Hopefully, this pandemic ends soon," Oman said. (RRI)

Jakarta. The number of recovered cases reached a record high with the addition of 4,088 people on Friday. 

From September 1-13, the daily recovery rate  was consistent at around 2,000 people. The number jumped on September 14, then fell again on September 15 to 2,660 cases. After that, the number rose again on September 16 to 3,036 cases and fell on September 17 to 2,585.

The total of recoveries is now 170,774 people, covers 70 percent of all confirmed positive cases.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 Task Force itself recorded 236,519 positive cases in Indonesia, with 65,745 active cases and 9,336 deaths.

The recovery rate in Indonesia is still lower than in the world (71.7 percent compared to 72.6 percent). The death rate in Indonesia is higher than the global rate (4 percent compared to 3.15 percent)

The active cases rate in Indonesia is 24.4 percent, lower than the world's 23.5 percent. (RRI)

A team from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has visited the Maros Pangkep Geopark in Makassar, South Sulawesi, to see its readiness to join the Global Geopark (Earth Park) network, as said by the Head of the Pangkep Tourism Office, Ahmad Djaman, on Thursday.

Ahmad Djaman said that the UNESCO team had given 6 months to complete various requirements so that the Maros Pangkep Geopark could turn into a Global Geopark.

"So they (the UNESCO team) asked to complete several requirements to become a Global Geopark," he said.

Some of the requirements are related to the readiness of facilities and infrastructure, road access to the location, attractiveness, readiness of tourist objects, and the readiness of the community.

"They required signboards, road access so that it involves many parties including the Transportation Department to make signs to the geopark location," he said.

The Maros Pangkep National Geopark Management Agency, which was formed by the Governor of South Sulawesi, Prof. HM Nurdin Abdullah, has submitted an application file to UNESCO's International Geoscience and Geoparks Program (IGGP) in Paris, France.

"So while it is in the process. We, from the Pangkep Regency Government, will certainly focus on completing all the requirements so that the Maros Pangkep Geopark can go global," he said.

The Maros Pangkep Geopark has been designated as a National Geopark by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in November 2017.

If successful in entering the UNESCO Global Geopark list, Ahmad Djaman hopes that the Maros Pangkep Geopark can be a research location for cultural sites and develop its surrounding area for tourism.

He also invited the authorities and the surrounding community to commit to preserving nature and the environment at the Maros Pangkep Geopark.

"This Geopark is how to glorify nature and improve the welfare of society, that is the true mission of the Geopark," he said.

He explained that infrastructure development can be done, but the most important thing that must be maintained is how to maintain the authenticity of cultural sites and local wisdom.

"The Maros Pangkep Geopark has many destinations. That's why I say that authenticity and local wisdom must really be maintained," he concluded. (CNNIndonesia via Antaranews)