VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Last Sunday October of 28th, hundreds of people from 7 villages in East Manggarai Regency flocked Muara Limbu Lea, Nangarawa, Bamo Billahe. They flocked the place to hold a tradition called ‘Kebhu’, the local tradition of Iowa ethnic. The tradition is started by reaping corn seeds in Pinggir Limbu Mpubu Lea and Mpube Amu (Pond). The corn seeds reaped are the ones that have been milled. The corn seeds are reaped by the heir of the Iowa ethnic. He is the one who fully controls the procession during the Kebhu tradition. He must also come from a family who only has one child as the tradition cannot be held by descendants who have siblings in their family.

When the heir reaps the milled corn, he recites a kind of incantation in their local language namley ‘Rongga Language’. The incantation says that "rengo ika lere liang, oro lau mbahu oro lau". It means that fish and various creatures are to get out from their sanctuary. The incantation is used to ask for god's blessing so that people can obtain abundant fish and other creatures easily from the pond. After reciting the incantation, the heir of the tradition throws Ndala, a special fishing net used only for local tradition. The heir who throws the fishing net must be the first and only child in his family. The Ndala is made from neither nylon nor plastic but thread. The fishing net is an environmentally-friendly heritage. After the heir throws the net, people get into the pond to catch fish and other creatures. Unfortunately, pregnant women cannot participate in this ritual as they will get nothing. People are only allowed to catch fish and other creatures until afternoon.

Kefore the Kebhu tradition is held, there are a number of indigenous rituals held earlier. For example, the first ritual is called ‘Mbaru Gendrang’ (Zao Mrhje) in Iowa ethnic. The next ritual is carried out in Watu Nurung (servings for god are placed on this round stone). The stone is located under the tamarind tree called ‘Ponange’ near to the Nangaranga coast. The Ponange tree has been selected in Iowa's ancestors in a bid to perform rituals before they get into the estuary or the Mbupu Lea and Ama pond. The indigenous people of Iowa give serving dedicated to their ancestors and the universe such as betel, limestone paste, pinang tree, ketupat jagung (ricecake made from corn), chicken, and milled corn. Afterwards, the first heir of Iowa ethnic embeds a wood from a tree branch surrounding the stone. The ketupat jagung is hanged on the wood. As this ritual finishes, the chief of the tribe recites incantation to ask for god's blessing and permission so that the Kebhu ritual can be accepted.

Legend says the fish living in the pond used to be chickens. Thus, people present them the milled corn. The mystique legend is based on the explanation of Iowa's ancestors in Nangarawa. The tradition is maintained by local people and it is held once in five years.

That was Indonesian Wonder about Kebhu Tradition. See you on our next edition.

RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia with Mosaic of Archipelago. In today’s edition, I will present some items of information. First, being conducive situation, the working environment in Central Java is the best in Indonesia; Second, students are committed to building the country's economy through entrepreneurship, and the last information is that Bali Election Supervisory Board encourages women to become election supervisors.

The Ministry of Manpower gave an award to the Central Java Provincial Government because the conducive situation of the work environment in Central Java is the best when compared to other provinces in Indonesia. According to Antara press release received in Semarang on Monday, Central Java succeeded in surpassing 33 other provinces in Indonesia with the highest Employment Achievement Index (IPK) from the category of conducive working environment. The award was given directly by the Minister of Manpower, Hanif Dhakiri to Governor of Central Java,  Ganjar Pranowo in the 2018 Employment Development Index Award at the Ministry of Manpower Office. In the event, Central Java Province is also named the third national best as a Province with Large Employment Affairs. Governor Ganjar Pranowo, after receiving the award, said that this award is actually a collective work of the government, employers and employees in Central Java. Meanwhile, Minister of Manpower, Hanif Dhakiri on the occasion said that the awards given were a manifestation of the country's appreciation for the regions that have excelled in labor development. He also emphasized that the government in the future will increasingly focus on improving the quality of human resources because skilled human resources are the key to boosting national economic growth.

The 9th Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Expo (KMI) held at the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Campus, Dramaga, Bogor, West Java (10/11) has several series of events; one of which is the ISEN (Indonesia Student Entrepreneur Network) Workshop. Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of IPB, Dr. Ir. SyarifahIis Aisyah and Chair of the 2018 KMI Expo said that ISEN is expected to be a forum for young entrepreneurs to collaborate so that they can move forward together to improve the Indonesian economy. In addition, Head of the Sub-Directorate of Welfare and Entrepreneurship at the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs, Dr. Ismet Yusputra in his speech, hoped that through this workshop, it would spark the spirit of students in achieving entrepreneurship.

The Bali Provincial Election Supervisory Board –Bawaslu encourages women in Bali to participate as supervisors in the 2019 Election and can cast their voting rights according to their conscience. This was affirmed by Chairman of the Bawaslu Bali, Ketut Ariyani during the 2019 Election Supervision Socialization event in Denpasar, Bali on Monday. In terms of quality, Ariyani regards women in Bali as potentially "plunging" as supervisors, but face a number of obstacles starting from the family environment and lack of understanding regarding the role of election supervisors. At the socialization program which was attended by women representatives from various campuses, NGOs, professional circles, beginner voters and media representatives, she said that  with these activities, they are encouraged by their enthusiasm to actively become election supervisors. Moreover, participatory supervision is carried out by women, according to Ariyani, its role is very important to help create elections that run smoothly and democratically amid the limited number of election supervisors. To keep strengthening the understanding of Balinese women about the 2019 Election and supervision, Bali Election Supervisory Board also plans to re-organize socialization by targeting PKK members along with a number of competitions, women's gatherings in villages that learn joint Rejang dance, youth organizations and so on.

That was Mosaic of Archipelago.

Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education, Mohamad Nasir has issued Minister Regulation No. 55/2018 concerning the Development of National Ideology in Student Activities in the Campus Environment. Later, each campus is obliged to establish a National Ideology Guards Student Activity Unit (UKM-PIB). This unit will bring back the extra-Pancasila-based organization in campus to help strengthen efforts to prevent radicalism in campus.

The unit will also be a forum for student organizations to contest in strengthening the fading national ideology in the campus environment with the spread of radicalism. As quoted by suarapembaruan.com, Director of Communication and Information of the State Intelligence Agency, Wawan Purwanto said in Jakarta (16/11) that however, the ideology of the Pancasila must be instilled both in campuses and in schools. Indonesian people must be aware that the post-reform, Pancasila has been absent in the realm of educational material. He perceived that if Pancasila in campus is not strengthened, of course it will be dangerous and eventually, foreign ideology will enter and it is also tending to be violent, radical and even will be attacking and undermining the government.

In addition, Wawan remarked that so far, President Joko Widodo has launched Pancasila education in both schools and universities. According to Wawan Purwanto, this is a revitalization effort so that finally, all elements of this educated society can again understand how the life of the nation and state based on the Pancasila. He added that by deepening Pancasila in campus, the Indonesian nation again carves out the noble values of the Indonesian people which were indeed born from the roots that had been initiated by the founding fathers of Indonesia.

Wawan Purwanto also emphasized that with the existence of the National Ideology Guards Student Activity Unit (UKM-PIB), students are free from and able to prevent the radicalism in campus. Being sufficient with understanding of Pancasila ideology, students will directly or indirectly be able to fortify themselves.

That’sMy Indonesia!

The government has just launched the 16th Economic Policy Package on relaxation of policies for economic resilience. In this package, there are three points that are renewed, namely expansion of facilities for reducing corporate income tax (tax holiday), relaxation of negative investment list (DNI) and optimizing utilization of export proceeds (DHE). Of the 16 sectors, there are now 18 industrial sectors that get tax incentives. What's special about this policy package? Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Darmin Nasution in his announcement at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta last Friday (11/16) explained that the policy is interconnected. He added that this policy is also connected with the Online Single Submission system –OSS. With this system, once investors meet the criteria, they can immediately get incentives.

The main objective of the policy is to improve current account deficit -CAD. Two weeks ago, Bank Indonesia -BI announced that CAD in the third quarter of 2018 had increased, namely US$ 8.8 billion dollars equivalent to 3.37 percent of Gross Domestic Product -GDP. This value is higher than the first quarter period which reached US$ 5.7 billion dollars. Minister Darmin Nasution believed that the CAD will not exceed 3 percent after the adoption of this new policy package.

Minister Darmin perceived that the 16th economic policy package is medium and long term. However, there are short-term elements to strengthen the self-confidence of fund owners. He acknowledged that the problem of the Current Transaction Deficit could not be completed in 1-2 quarters. For decades, the Current Transaction Deficit was indeed a deficit.

Businesspeople welcomed the new economic policy package. Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Roesan Perkasa Roeslani said that the government is regarded appropriate to take the right time to release the policy package in a bid to respond to current economic conditions.

By issuing a series of economic policy packages, the government is working hard to improve economic conditions amid global uncertainty and a trade war between two super-powerful countries: China and the United States. However, this positive effort must be accompanied by comprehensive implementation in the field. Cooperation is needed, especially with regions. Regional regulations may not hinder the realization of various central economic policies. In this case, good coordination is needed between the center and the region. If not, good policies will be ineffective and it will bring about distrust among investors.

That’s Commentary!