VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Since October 12, festival with the title ‘Menoreh Art Festival (MAF) 2019’ has been opened. The festival which is held to commemorate the 68th anniversary of Kulon Progo takes place at the field of Wates City, Kulon Progo until October 20, 2019. The festival is aimed to introduce Kulonprogo culture to the community. Many different arts and cultures are shown during the festival. The opening of the festival started by holding Ngalarak Blarak competition, the traditional sport that belongs to Kulon Progo. In the past, Ngalarak Blarak was only kids’ and youths’ game at the hamlet of coconut juice tapper on Menoreh hill which used blarak or in English means coconut midrib. The local government makes it as packaged competition so that Nglarak Blarak becomes an interesting competition for adult people by using coconut midrib. The government also makes Nglarak Blarak to be the traditional sport of Kulon Progo. After competing Nglarak Blarak, there is Campursari singers’ parade. The next day, there is puppet show by using Tiga Kelir or screen. Then, it is continued by performances of Sendratari Sugriwa Subali and Sendratari Api on Menoreh hill as Kulon Progo icon. Sendratari is a drama story which is presented by dancing without dialog, and it’s usually accompanied by Gamelan. Another traditional sport is Jemparingan or traditional archery in national level. There is also massive Macapatan or singing in Javanese language, karawitan and choir or flash-mob. In addition, there is also full moon festival while playing music from rice pounder. In the Menoreh Art Festival 2019, the regional government of Kulon Progo also handed over awards to a number of culturists. The government also released a book entitled "Sanun" which tells about a student army from Kulon Progo who becomes policeman and was killed at Shanun field, Sentolo district. Menoreh Art Festival 2019 will be continued by Fine Arts Exhibition entitled 'RUPAKU' which will be conducted at Kulon Progo Cultural Park starting from October 21 – 30, 2019. Previous years, the exhibition was held in one location with cultural festival. This year, the exhibition presents community of artists, curators from Jogjakarta, cultural actors, performance of art community. The regional government of Kulon Progo also makes a package of the Cultural Park to be Kangen market where various kinds of traditional culinary products of Kulon Progo are sold.

Indonesia's active role in efforts to address environmental issues at the ASEAN level can be seen from the statement of Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, represented by the Head of Research and Development Agency and Innovation of the Ministry Agus Justianto at the 15th ASEAN Ministrial Meeting of Environment –AMME at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Agus Justianto conveyed the statement of the Minister of Environment and Forestry, that how important environmental issues in the ASEAN region are and the need for collaborative strategic steps to anticipate environmental problems in the region. The official statement also mentioned the corrective actions taken by the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to improve the quality of the environment in Indonesia.

The 15th Ministrial Meeting of Environment, which took place from October 7-11, discussed various environmental problems in the ASEAN region and discussed regional cooperation to anticipate the existing environmental problems. The discussion includes climate change, environmentally friendly city development, biodiversity conservation, clean coastal and marine environment, environmental education for young people, water resources management, chemical and hazardous waste management, control of cross-border haze pollution, and environmentally friendly schools.

There are three important matters discussed in the 15th Environment Ministrial Meeting. The matters are the adoption of a joint statement by ASEAN member countries on climate change which will be presented at the conference of parties to the framework of the United Nations climate change convention (COP 25 - UNFCCC) in Chile in December 2019. Then the draft of ASEAN Strategic Plan on Environment, ASPEN, and the establishment of five National Parks in Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as ASEAN Heritage Parks.

The 15th Environment Ministrial Meeting was opened by Vice Prime Minister concurrently Minister of Economy and Finance of Cambodia Akka Pundit Sapheacha Aun Pommoniroth, at Sofitel Utama, Cambodia followed by tree planting event at Angkor Wat tourism area.

During the meeting an evaluation of the work of the ASEAN Working Group (AWG) in the field of environment was also carried out and other proposed activities in the relevant environmental field to anticipating environmental problems in the ASEAN region. According to the agenda, the 16th Environment Ministrial Meeting will be held in Indonesia in 2021. Indonesia hopes that environmental issues will be better in the next two years and ASEAN member countries can more focus on the environmental issues anticipation.

Eventually, PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines can resume its operations after 10 State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) synergized to help it be active again. Garuda Indonesia along with nine other SOEs synergized to form a strategic partnership in a bid to restructure the business of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines. The cooperation agreement includes collaboration in the field of air cargo services, ground-handling, overhaul maintenance, and training centers. The cooperation agreement was signed directly by President Director of PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, Ari Askhara, Managing Director of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines, Asep Ekanugraha, and directors of nine other SOEs in Jakarta, Wednesday (10/16/2019).

PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines has ceased operations since February 1, 2014. This is due to Merpati's debt to a number of creditors, which reached Rp10.72 trillion.

PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines had experienced its golden time in 1989-1992. At that time, Merpati had various types of aircraft, from jets to small-sized propeller planes, which totaled 100 aircraft. With a considerable number of fleets at the time, Merpati controlled pioneer flights in Indonesia. Short-distance routes to remote areas could be controlled by Merpati. The airline operated on the routes that were considered uneconomical.

At the time, Merpati's performance was strengthened by the synergy with Garuda Indonesia. Merpati served as a Garuda Indonesia feeder to serve flights to all corners of the country. During its golden time, PT Merpati also served international flights: to the United States and Australia. For the United States, Merpati had served Biak-Honolulu-Los Angeles route.

At present, the aviation business in Indonesia has developed rapidly and is able to increase human mobility efficiently and has proven to contribute positively to the regional economy. Unfortunately, access to remote areas and remote islands is still limited, considering the implementation of pioneering flights has not been optimal.

With the re-operation of PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines, of course, access to remote areas and remote islands is increasingly open. Certainly, the re-operation of PT Merpati will support the efforts of the Indonesian government to build connectivity across Indonesia. 

Ujung Kulon is the oldest national park in Indonesia, which was inaugurated as one of World Heritages, that has been protected by UNESCO since 1991, because its area includes very large protected forest. Until now, there are more than 50 rhinos which live in this habitat. Earlier, Ujung Kulon was agricultural area. But finally, it was destroyed when Mt. Krakatau erupted on August 27, 1883, which changed the area to become forest again. Ujung Kulon was explored for the first time by botanist from Germany, F. Junghuhn in 1846 to collect tropical plants. At that time, wealth of flora and fauna of Ujung Kulon have begun to be known by scientists. Although, the eruption of Mt. Krakatau has swept Ujung Kulon area, several years later, the ecosystem-vegetation and wild animals in  Ujung Kulon grow well and fast. Thus, some areas are determined as protected areas. National Park area of Ujung Kulon is administratively located at Sumur and Cimanggu district, Pandeglang regency, Banten province. In late 2018, Ujung Kulon National Park was hit again by tsunami which destroyed parts of the area. However, within three months, 70 percent of the area has been restored by provincial government of Banten and proposed as UNESCO Global Geopark by Tourism Office of Banten province which is fully supported by Indonesian Tourism Ministry.

“…I will support national geopark proposal of Ujung Kulon. We hope this year, Ujung Kulon will be National Geopark. I instructed it to the party at Tourism Ministry. Requirement, which is not fulfilled yet, is master plan but we are still lucky because its proposal is postponed until October. So, we hope this year it becomes National Geopark and next year, Ujung Kulon will have become UNESCO Global Geopark.” Minister Arif Yahya said. 

National Park which is well known with symbol “One-horned rhinoceros” becomes one of tourism destinations which should be visited if you are in Banten. The entrance ticket to the park can be obtained at National Park office in Labuan or at Tamanjaya post. If you want to stay at night, you can rent lodging at Tamanjaya village, Handeuleum and Peucang Island.