VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mosaic of the Archipelago presents information: first, Buddhists celebrate Waisak at Muara Takus temple. The second information is that  Minister of Research, Technology and High Education encourages Jenang Kudus to be exported abroad. The third information is that Aceh invites a number of countries to enliven cultural week.

Around 500 Buddhists from various regencies/cities in Riau province celebrated Waisak 2562 at Muara Takus temple, Kampar regency. Head of Waisak Committee, Romo Aseng said on Saturday (2/6) that the temple was chosen as the place of the event because the temple is believed as 7th century’s heritage which was a university of Buddha in the era. Based on the history, Muara Takus temple is very appropriate to implement Waisak 2018 celebration in Riau province. The event was expected to be able to encourage synergy among government, academics, businesspeople, various communities and media people to develop cultural heritage site of Muara Takus temple. This year, the event was colored with some events, starting on May 20 until June 2, 2018. A series of events which were conducted, were free treatment to 350 patients, free cataract surgery for 6 patients, and ritual activities as well as Dharmayatra Festival activities. This could be one of important events. Moreover, it was combined with visit package to some tourism destinations surrounding the temple so that it can increase the visit of foreign tourists to Indonesia. The event chose a theme "The beauty of diversity in Buddha Dharma". In Riau, the peak of Waisak event will be held in Pekanbaru on June 9, 2018 to be participated in by around 1,000 Buddhists.

The second information is that  Minister of Research, Technology and High Education encourages Jenang Kudus to be exported abroad.

Minister of Research, Technology and High Education, Mohammad Nasir encouraged Kudus typical food, Jenang to go international. His side will assist to optimize the market which meets export standard by technological touch. The Minister said that his side will also attempt to export Jenang to some countries. Take for example, Jenang can survive until 6 months. He even wants to make sure how Jenang can last 1 or 2 years. The Minister believes that Jenang will be much loved if it is more durable and in good quality. Besides, he also promised to improve the packaging of the Jenang product. Jenang businesspeople will be provided quality improvement according to world’s standard. Minister Nasir perceived that the government has developed technology, namely Red Gamma Irradiator at Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten. With the technology, the home product will be exported.

We end Mosaic of the Archipelago with the information on Aceh invites a number of countries to enliven cultural week.

The government of Aceh invited a number of Islamic countries either in Southeast Asia, Europe or Middle East to enliven the 8th Aceh Cultural Week which will be held in Banda Aceh on August 5 until15, 2018. Deputy Governor of Aceh, Nova Iriansyah said in Banda Aceh on Monday that besides those countries, his office also invited all provinces in Indonesia to participate in the event. The Governor also pointed out that there are dozens of art and cultural attractions at 7 main activities. He explained that the event, besides being centralized at Ratu Safiatuddin Park, enliven the 8th Aceh Cultural Week will also be held at 16 places in Banda Aceh. The Governor added that the event will be opened by President Joko Widodo. Governor Nova Iriansyah remarked that the event is to highlight Acehnese cultural art, and bring about impacts to people’s economy and to boost Aceh’s tourism.

The Sanctity Day Commemoration of Pancasila set every June 1st should be used as a moment of reminder, moment of spur, and moment of actualization of Pancasila’s values. This was stated by President Joko Widodo at Gedung Pancasila, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on last Friday (01.06) as quoted by Antara News Agency. Even, the President asked Indonesian citizens to make the Sanctity Dayof Pancasila as an effort to build the nation, and invite the ulama and all stakeholders to practice the values ​​of Pancasila.

In addition, President Joko Widodo also stated that Indonesia as one of plural countries consisting of various tribes and religions is often colored with intolerance issue. Therefore, he views that Pancasila needs implementing to deal with the issue. He also pointed out that any country in the world will always proceed to become plural society. Very often, this plurality is also overshadowed by the risk of intolerance, disunity and lack of cooperation.

In his speech, President Joko Widodo said that it is the right time for Indonesians to share their experiences in Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or Unity in Diversity in tolerating and in building unity and togetherness. He also called for all components of the nation to jointly practice Pancasila in their daily life. The President emphasized that the united spirit of sharing and achievement will confirm the steps of the Indonesian nation towards a developed and glorious country.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of People Consultative Assembly –MPR, Muhaimin Iskandar, as quoted from Antara News Agency, called for Indonesian people to use the momentum of the Pancasila Sanctity Day June 1st to be a means of improving the unity of the nation. He also affirmed that the Pancasila Sanctity Day should be a momentum for the Indonesian nation to unite, cooperate and enhance unity.

On the same occasion, Chairman of the Pancasila Ideology Development Agency, Yudi Latief said that this year, the Pancasila Sanctity Day is special because it coincides with the political year, Ramadan and the Asian Games sports event. He hoped that people can grow a sense of unity, sharing and solidity. He also appealed to the differences of choice in society not to cause disunity. Yudi Latief hoped that the community will remain in the spirit of unity.

The arrest of three suspected terrorists at the State University of Riau (UNRI) campus on last Saturday (2/6) showed that campus is not a place free from thoughts or acts of radicalism. Institutions of higher education that graduate the nation's young intellectuals seem increasingly 'exposed' with individuals and radical groups. Even, campus that may be far from the intervention or police supervision is now used by university students or alumni to launch the terrorist movement. They regard the campus as a safe place to carry out their mission.

Some time ago, Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Budi Gunawan at the IV Congress of BEM in Semarang on Saturday (28/4) said that about 39% of college students have been exposed to radical understanding.

He perceived that based on data, 24% of senior high school students and 23.3% of university students agree with jihad for the establishment of an Islamic state. This condition is very worrying because it threatens the sustainability of the Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia -NKRI.

Suspected terrorist -MNZ along with two colleagues who were arrested in UNRI campus admitted assembling bombs in the campus because it is considered safe and unreachable from the police. In addition, he also claimed to assemble the explosives in campus because it is easy to get explosives from the laboratory.

MNZ is also suspected of having links with the network of Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) terror group that carried out the attack at Riau Regional Police Headquarters (Mapolda) some time ago. He claimed to have received a bomb order from the perpetrators of the attack. The JAD network is chaired by the defendant of Thamrin bomb case -Aman Abdurrahman. Aman is also the chairman of ISIS in Indonesia. JAD was established as an organization to support the Islamic caliphate. This means that the existence and capability of MNZ with his friends should not be underestimated.

However, the steps taken by the security apparatus -Densus 88 and the Riau Police who entered UNRI campus posed strong protest from Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives –DPR, Fahri Hamzah. Through his Twitter account @ Fahrihamzah on Saturday (2/6/2018) at 19:40 pm, Fahri said that Mr. @ jokowi, this should not be allowed to happen, if long-barreled weapons entered the campus, we have returned to the Stone Age! Maybe, you never became an activist, so you let this happen. This is a war with the students! Even Fahri also tagged Twitter account of President Joko Widodo -@ jokowi, who called Jokowi never became an activist.

The actions taken by the security forces are correct, because what they faced at that time was not a student demonstration or ordinary crime, but people who could endanger the lives of others. Thus, common views are needed to deal with radicalism or suspected terrorists in campus so that the acts of terrorism that have occurred recently and killed dozens of lives can be eradicated across Indonesia.

Welcome to the Rhythm of the Indonesian Archipelago, a weekly segment introducing you to Indonesian traditional music and musical instrument from across Indonesia. This week, we’ll invite you to know more about a traditional instrument from Banten.

In today’s edition, we will invite you to visit Banten province. Besides being rich of beautiful nature, Banten also has some unique traditional instruments. One of them is made from bamboo. From the bamboo, Sundanese people make instrument namely Calung. Calung is a prototype of Angklung. Different from Angklung which is played by shaking it, Calung is to play by beating bamboo’s tubes which are arranged in accordance with pentatonic tones. Calung is usually made black bamboo locally called ‘Awi Wulung, but there is Calung made from white bamboo or Awi Temen. Traditional instrument from West Java is categorized as idiophone where body of the instrument becomes source of the sound. While, Calung is categorized as percussion because it is played by beating. In West Java, usually Calung player holds and plays it while standing.

In the past, Calung Renteng was played to keep away birds and pest at the rice field. The instrument was played not only for entertainment but also as honorable ritual to Dewi Sri. Dewi Sri or Goddess is the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese pre-Hindu and pre-Islam era goddess of rice and fertility. The songs which were sung, contained of praise to Dewi Sri. Over the times, the function of Calung changed. Calung is not used anymore as media of ritual, but as accompaniment of Calungan performance. Calungan performance contains of jokes and folk music. The folk performance is presented by people to people, and loved by all element s of society. The power of Calung Renteng comes from not only its tap but also from its lyrics.

INSERT 2 DADAN SUDJANA :

“…Its lyrics are related to starting from planting rice and waiting until harvest. It is revealed in its lyrics. There are some songs, for example song of Kebo Jiro, signing that when keeping the rice into barn, this means that harvest is over.  There is also Lutung Kasarung song related to planting rice. If we know Sundanese people, there is Dewi Padi namely Dewi Sang Hyang Sri, the goddess of rice and fertility. The song sounds like this…‘Allahhuma umur dunia salamat berkat Allah kawula yang di dunia salamat merekat Allah. Naga herang naga lenggang naga panguasa Allah. Turun di berbuk ka sanggap ku guru indra di tanggap ku perdawati’. Well, there are Islamic elements in which there is syncretism between local culture and Islamic culture.”

Calung Renteng consists of 17 segments of Wulung bamboo, which are tied in a row with a rope like Gambang. The arrangement of the bamboos has Salendro or Pelog tone. Earlier, Calung Renteng was only played for entertainment when waiting for rice to be yellow at the field. At development era, Calung Renteng becomes art performance which is collaborated with Gamelan and Karinding. Besides its music and lyric, Calung Renteng could also be meant as relations between human and God in the past and now it is used by Banten people to worship to Allah SWT. This was explained by Tourism Official of Banten, DR. Moh. Ali Fadilah.

INSERT 3 DR. MOH ALI FADILAH :

“…There are 2 kinds of arts. It is related how people to face, and to anticipate the changes which happen surrounding them. Metaphysic always exists in every person and the result of the Metaphysic is translation on natural situations which are different. Being different condition of nature brings them to one direct that we can use art to protect relation with the God and His nature.  So, what is in nature, they sing.  In the past,  Sundanese songs had mixed with the Islamic songs. Now, they consider Calung Renteng becomes media to appreciate beautiful sounds.”

West Java, which is wide, makes West Java typical art and culture spread out until Banten. Most of Banten arts are similar with West Java arts. Although similar, there is difference which signs its own characteristic of every region. As revealed by DR. Moh. Ali Fadilah.

INSERT 4 DR. MOH. ALI FADILAH :

“…I believe if it is not considered original, it must be considered Banten local. And if we will try to refer that its own characteristic of Banten is in Calung Renteng. If we see its basic materials of the songs, the way to beat is almost similar with other places. But the characteristics of Calung Renteng are on its song, rhythm, and situation related to people at the field.”   

Surely, every region has difference among the similarities. Every beating and lyric of Calung Renteng are not only song but also all of them have deep meaning which can be interpreted as the way of Banten people worship to the God.