VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia again made achievements in the international world by being elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council the period of 2020-2024. In the voting, Indonesia won the support of votes from 174 countries. Elections took place at the 74th General Assembly of the United Nations at the Headquarters in New York, the USA on October 17, 2019. Indonesia received the highest votes for the Asia Pacific region and was elected along with three other countries from the Asia Pacific group: Japan with 165 votes, South Korea with 165 votes and Marshall Islands with 123 votes. As quoted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.go.id, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi in Jakarta shortly after the election took place at the UN Headquarters said that the support for Indonesia was trustful and evident of international trust and Indonesia had a high track record and contribution in the promotion of human rights through international cooperation. For Indonesia, this membership is also a form of fulfilling the constitutional mandate and affirming Indonesia's commitment to the application of global human rights norms not only at the global level, but also at the regional and national levels. Minister Retno Marsudi also said that this victory is the result of the hard work of all elements of the nation. On that occasion, Minister Retno Marsudi on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked all elements of the nation, including the media people.

Indonesia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council which carries the tagline "A True Partner for Democracy, Development and Social Justice" is expected to encourage this UN human rights mechanism to be more effective, efficient and it opens constructive dialogue with the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity.

In 2020, Indonesia's membership in the Human Rights Council will begin. This is in conjunction with Indonesia's membership in the UN Security Council. Indonesia will start its term of office on January 1, 2020 along with other Asia Pacific countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Japan, Marshall Islands, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, and South Korea.

The inauguration of Indonesian President, Joko Widodo and Vice President, Ma’ruf Amin for the period 2019 - 2024 has taken place smoothly and safely. What has been a serious discussion is that who will be chosen by President Joko Widodo to help him work in his cabinet. After the inauguration, President Joko Widodo said that he would introduce the nominated ministers.

The Indonesian people have to wait for those who are going to lead the ministries and high state institutions. On the previous occasion, President Joko Widodo asked the public to patiently wait for the cabinet announcement. He emphasized that Indonesia has many great people and are able to lead the ministries and institutions; they are willing to serve the nation. President Joko Widodo also mentioned that the ministers who would help him come from academicians, bureaucrats, politicians, Santri, officers of Indonesian Armed Forces –TNI army and the National Police -Polri. He also emphasized that those people are not difficult to find.

Who will fill the position in the cabinet under Joko Widodo - Ma'ruf Amin’s administration? Of course, those who are expected to be are that they will work to answer the needs of the Indonesian people. They are able to fully interpret and carry out what President Joko Widodo wants in his Nawa Cita, the Nine Programs. The second term of President Joko Widodo’s administration becomes very crucial to accelerate in order to achieve the desired targets and objectives.

The next cabinet is expected to move quickly to the five focuses of government: development of human resources and infrastructure, streamlining regulatory constraints, simplifying bureaucracy and economic transformation. The next ministers are also expected to work in the interests of the state and nation, ignoring the interests of the groups or parties that carry them. So, they will work for five years sincerely. High hopes rely on their shoulders, who would later occupy the positions in the government cabinet of Joko Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin. They are expected to bring Indonesia with more excellent human resources to move forward.

October 17, 1947 on Special Force Corps of Indonesian Air Force anniversary

On October 17, 1947, Dakota carrier aircraft which flew from Maguwo airport, Jogjakarta crossed on the sky of Kalimantan. Dakota aircraft carried out parachuting to 13 best soldiers of Indonesian Air Force over Waringin City. Their mission was to open radio transmission between region and center, to prepare dropping zone for the next jump, to help warriors in Kalimantan, and to open the eyes of the world that Kalimantan is part of Republic of Indonesia. The Parachuting, which was conducted by the 13 soldiers of Indonesian Air Force, signed the birth of combat unit of Special Force Corps of Indonesian Air Force. Thus, October 17 was decided as the Day of Special Force Corps of Indonesian Air Force. 

In 1973 on Embargo of Arabic oil

On October 17, 1973, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries –OPEC, whose most country members are Arabic countries, began to impose oil embargo on the United States of America, the United Kingdom and other countries which sold oil to Israel. The embargo was conducted because the USA, the UK were viewed to massively provide military assistance for Israel in the war between Israel and Syria as well as Egypt, that began on October 6. As a result, oil price became higher and Western countries were in serious trouble due to the embargo which was known as period of oil shock. In March 1974, the embargo was pulled out again after US State Secretary, Henry Kissinger succeeded in carrying out negotiation of ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria.

In 1992 on the commemoration of World Poverty Eradication Day, the commemoration was recognized by United Nations in 1992

The commemoration was held for the first time in Paris, France in 1987. At that time, 100 thousand people gathered at Human Rights and Liberties Plaza in Trocadero to honor the victims of hunger, poverty, violence and threats. They declared poverty is violence on Human Rights. Afterwards, General Assembly of the United Nations declared on October 17 as World Poverty Eradication Day. International communities celebrate the commemoration with various ways.

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.