VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

This is RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia with Diplomatic Corner, a program which presents information about activities and progress of Indonesian diplomacy in the international world. 

The first information is from Cairo, Egypt.

Spice products from Indonesia, especially nutmeg and clove are in demand by Egyptian market. To fulfill the demand of the market, an Indonesian company has booked contract of shipment of 28 tons of nutmeg to Egypt.  The nominal of the purchase contract reaches more than US$163 thousand dollars. The signing of the contract between Indonesian and  Egyptian company was conducted at Indonesian embassy of Cairo, Egypt on Sunday (9/9). In addition to exporting nutmeg, the contract also booked purchase of 15 tons of nutmeg from Indonesia, worth US$99 thousand dollars. The signing of the contract was witnessed by Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt, Helmy Fauzi and Attaché of Trade of the Indonesian embassy of Cairo, Burman Rahman. After the signing, Ambassador Helmy Fauzi revealed that the demand on spice commodities from Indonesia at Egyptian market is quite high and continues to increase. Moreover, Egypt can play a major role as hub for Indonesian products to enter African market. 

The next information is from New Delhi.

The fifth meeting of Indonesia-India Joint Working Group on terrorism contra (JWG) was conducted in New Delhi on Monday (10/9). The meeting was jointly led by Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary of terrorism contra, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India and Inspector General Hamidin, Deputy of International Cooperation, National Counter Terrorism Agency, Indonesia. The two sides have changed views on development of terrorism and steps that are taken by each government, program of the increasing of capacity and cooperation in the bilateral, regional and multilateral level. The two sides are committed to strengthening cooperation in fighting terrorism. Indonesia and India have established comprehensive strategic partnership which was agreed when Indian Prime Minister visited Indonesia on May 29 – 30, 2018. The cooperation of anti-terrorism has become an important element of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.  

We end Diplomatic Corner with the information from Islamabad.

Various efforts keep being conducted by Indonesian embassy of  Islamabad to defend and to increase Indonesian palm oil market in Pakistan. One of the efforts is to hold international seminar with the title "Palm Oil: Health, Nutrition & Development". The seminar was conducted under cooperation with University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), and Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) at UAF auditorium on Monday (10/9). UAF was selected because it is the oldest university of agriculture in Pakistan and becomes reference of food supervisory agency, Punjab Food Authority -PFA. Last year, the agency planned to ban the circulation of Vanaspati Ghee product, namely 70% mixture of palm oil  in July 2020 because it is dangerous for health in Punjab province which is inhabited by more than 110 million people. Remembering that Pakistan is the third biggest palm oil market after China and India, Indonesian Ambassador to Pakistan, Iwan Suyudhie Amri viewed that it is strategic to enhance understanding of Pakistani stakeholders regarding the safety of palm products. The way is by synergizing between academicians and chambers of Commerce and Industry through the seminar. The seminar attended by more than 160 people, including Indonesian consulate general of Karachi, officials related to Pakistan, business community, researchers, lecturers and students took place smoothly and succeeded to give more understanding that  palm oil does not endanger health, it is rich of nutrition, and very potential to increase economy and Gross Domestic Income. Previously, the Indonesian embassy of Islamabad along with the Indonesian consulate general of Karachi also conducted Conference and Exhibition on Indonesian Palm Oil on September 6.

That was Diplomatic Corner.

Today's Mosaic of the Archipelago presents information: first, Melaspas ritual of Simpang Ngurah Rai Underpass. The second information is that Satu Suro carnival of Surakarta palace is participated in by 7 albino buffalos. We end Mosaic of the Archipelago with the information on Chief of National Police enlivens Asian Para Games 2018 torch parade in Makassar. 

National Road Implementation Center 8 held Melaspas or Macaru ritual or sanctification of Simpang Tugu Ngurah Rai Underpass on Wednesday (12/9), before it is planned to officiated in mid- September.

Head of Preservation Sector of the Center, Nusakti Weda said that Melaspas ritual was gratitude to have completing underpass project development. Underpass project development can be completed faster from the previous target on October 20, 2018, completing on July 31, 2018. The Underpass will be operated to support the implementation of IMF and World meeting in October.

Director of traffic of regional police of Bali, Commissioner Pol AA Made Sudana said at the location that with the existence of the underpass, traffic jam in Denpasar can be easily overcome, especially when Bali faces international events such as IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2018 in October.

Made Sudana also said that his side does not want to take a risk if later the state’s delegations and guests are stuck in a traffic jam in Bali. With the existence of the underpass, the police set travel time from  I Gusti Ngurah Rai International airport to the location of the event around 30 minutes. To welcome Javanese New Year, Surakarta Hadiningrat sultanate on Tuesday (11/9) conducted heirloom carnival of Malam Satu Suro, night of change of New Year in Javanese community. The ceremony was participated in by hundreds of relatives and servants of the sultanate. The welcoming event of Javanese New Year was witnessed by thousands of the community along the route which was passed.  Based on RRI’s observation, 7 albino buffalos, descent of Kyai Slamet Kagungan Dalem Sinuhun of the 13th Paku Buwono became ‘Cucuk Lampah’ or road guide. In addition, dozens of the core heirlooms of Islamic Mataram kingdom’s heritage were paraded around the sultanate. Hundreds of the participants of the parade were jointly walking and conducting so-called ‘Topo Bisu’ ritual  or walking without saying any word. Hundreds of tings, small lanterns and bamboo torches became light during the parade. The aroma of incense was smelled along the trip. Relative of Surakarta sultanate, Dipokusumo explained that Malam Satu Suro parade has begun since Paku Buwono X leadership as form of commemoration and welcoming change of Javanese New Year of Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo. The calculation combines the date of Hijriyah Islamic calendar and Hindu Saka. Thus, the event is conducted routinely every year as ritual and preservation of the culture. 

Chief of National Police, General Tito Karnavian enlivened Asian Para Games 2018 torch parade in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Wednesday (12/9). He participated in the torch parade from Resort Police of Big City of Makassar to Karebosi field. Asian Para Games torch was directly brought by javelin throw’s athlete, the gold medalist of Vietnam Asian Para Games 2005, Bahar Rahman and he handed over to the Chief of National Police. General Tito was accompanied by Governor of South Sulawesi, Nurdin Abdullah and Mayor of Makassar, Mohammad Ramdhan Pomanto. Thus, the torch was handed over to disabled badminton player, Zaldi who was the winner of silver medal in badminton in 2012. Asian Para Games torch was stored at Karebosi Makassar field as part of Asian Para Games 2018 series. Asian Para Games 2018 will start being held on October 6 - 13, 2018.

That was Mosaic of the Archipelago.

Today in History over RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia. We start from an event on September 13, 1993 about Oslo Peace Agreement.

Peace Agreement or officially called "Temporary Declaration of Principles for Facilitating Self-Government" was agreed in Oslo, Norway on August 20, 1993 and officially signed in Washington D.C. on September 13, 1993 by Mahmud Abbas who represented PLO and Shimon Peres represented Israel. This was witnessed by Warren Christopher from the United States of America and Andrei Kozyrev from Russia before US President, Bill Clinton and Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin with Head of PLO, Yasser Arafat. Under the agreement, Palestine began to get authority to reign at West Bank and Gaza Strip. Even, Palestine could form devices of government, police, parliamentary and another governmental institution. For the reply, Palestinian authority had to promote tolerance against Israel and recognized the right of Israel to exist. On September 28, 1995, Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat signed Israel-Palestine Interim agreement. 

The next event is that in 2000, a bomb exploded at parking lot of Jakarta stock Exchange.

Jakarta Stock Exchange Building on September 13, 2000 was shocked by explosion of powerful bomb. Because of the explosion, the main lobby was destroyed severely enough and made workers panic to run out of the building. 15 people were killed and 90 injured. The explosion made the trade at the Jakarta Stock Exchange directly stopped. Only in 12 days, the perpetrator of the explosion could be known. 

And the last event is that in 2007, it was about declaration of the United Nations on the Rights of traditional people.

Declaration of the United Nations on the Rights of Original population is a declaration which was legalized by General Assembly of the United Nations in the 61st session in New York, on September 13, 2007. The declaration underlined the rights of individual and collective of natives and their rights on culture, identity, language, job, health, education and other issues. The declaration also emphasized their rights to maintain and strengthen institution, culture and tradition and their rights on development to fulfill their need and aspiration. The declaration also prohibited discrimination on natives and improved their participation fully and effectively in all things which involved their problems, and their rights to be still different and to seek vision of their own economic and social development. Although the declaration is not legally binding, as other declarations of General Assembly, the declaration describes dynamic development of norm of international law and reflects commitment of member countries of the United Nations to move to certain direction; the United Nations describes it as important standard for treatment against natives around the world, which certainly will become important tools in eradicating violation of the Human Rights  against 370 million natives in the world, and help them to fight against discrimination and marginalization.

That was Today in History.

Welcome to “Indonesian Wonder,” a daily segment featuring tourism, culinary arts, fine arts and culture from various regions across Indonesia.

In today’s edition, we will introduce you to a tourism object in West Sulawesi province. the beauty of natural wealthin Indonesia cannot be doubted anymore. Many tourism objects in Indonesia looks like similar in the paradise. Some of the tourism objects are well known and they have to be visited . One of them is Karampuang Island. there are two versions of the origin of the island why it is named Karampuang island. According to the first version, in the past, the island was a hiding place of the kings from the chase of the Dutch. It was named  Karampuang because combination from Kara meaning island, coral or stone and Puang meaning noble, and king. Kara and Puang was local language of tribes which lived in Sulawesi. So, Karampuang means island of the kings. While, according to the second version, the name of Karampuang comes from Mamuju language. It means full moon. According to the story, earlier the island had named Liutang Island. The name was changed by a figure in Mamuju becoming Karampuang. Karampuang Island is a small island with 6 km wide. The island is surrounded by blue clear water. The purity of its sea water makes marine biota able to be seen only from its surface. The best spot to see the beauty of its under-sea is at wooden dock which was built on coastal line. Besides, it makes you able to enjoy the undersea beauty, wooden bridge as long as 500 meters. This can also become the best spot for taking picture. For tourist who love diving, the clarity of the sea water of Karampuang Island cannot be missed. Because by diving, certainly you will be more satisfied to see the beauty of marine biota of Karampuang Island.  In addition to offering the beauty of the beach with clear water, you can also enjoy some interesting places of this island. On this island, there is a unique well which has three different flavors. The flavor water of the well is salty, brackish and tasteless. The three-flavor well is also mentioned  soul mate well. Another place of the island which can be visited is Lidah cave. Karampuang Island is located at Simboro district, Mamuju regency, West Sulawesi. The distance from Makassar is around 295 km. To go to the island from Mamuju, tourists can rent Katinting or speed boat with cheap tariff. Departure to Karampuang Island can be started from Mamuju dock where there is fish auction, Kasawi. From there, it takes only 20 minutes. That was our segment ‘Indonesian Wonder’ for today featuring Karampuang Island in West Sulawesi province.