VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Prior to the month of Ramadan, the prices of staple food in some regions in Indonesia have skyrocketed. For the majority of the Muslim population of Indonesia, the month of Ramadan is the holy month when they are obliged to fast every day for one month. After Ramadan, there is Idul Fitri or Lebaran Day which is the biggest feast in Indonesia. The problem is that during the month of Ramadan, food consumption tends to increase. Most of Indonesian people, especially Muslims think that during Ramadan they need to improve nutrition and quality of food to balance the obligations of fasting. On Idul Fitri day like great days in other countries, people usually provide the best dishes for families and friends. So, the increase in food prices is not a new thing for Indonesian people. This is like a "tradition". Despite the availability of stock and smooth distribution of food such rice or meat, the prices are already "automatically" rising, as if the prices of basic necessities both prior to Ramadan, during Ramadan and post-Idul Fitri should rise.

Director General of Animal Husbandry and Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture, I Ketut Diarmita said that chicken meat is sufficient before the fasting month and Idul Fitri 2018 and even, the chicken eggs are surplus. Meanwhile, Director General of Horticulture of the Ministry of Agriculture Suwandi said that the supply of chili from the harvest in South Sumatera, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, and other regions could become sources ahead of Ramadan.

Based on these calculations, Diarmita pointed out that there should be no price increase because there is sufficient stock. But the reality is quite different. The government's claim on the availability of basic commodities does not seem to undermine traders' intentions, especially retailers in traditional markets to raise the prices.

The price of one chicken in Kramat Jati Market, Jakarta slowly has moved up since last week and is expected to continue to increase until Idul Fitri. In Pasar Baru of Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi, the basic commodity prices have even gone up over the last two weeks. The prices of some commodities in Inpres and Lhokseumawe markets also increase.

Generally, the cause of the price increase is that there is an increasing demand. However, sometimes the reasons for Indonesian traders to raise prices seem absurd. For example, prior to Lebaran Day, government employees and companies and workers usually receive a holiday allowance or bonus. So, this is considered fair if the traders take advantage of additional benefits as well.

The government needs to conduct market operations to ensure sufficient stock and the prices cannot be manipulated by the merchants, let alone make it as tradition.

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 Cayman Islands.

Indonesian student, Naila Azwa Aini (12 years old), who is studying at elementary school on Cayman Islands, succeeded to gain the third place in essay competition which was held at Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands over the weekend. She told Antara London on Monday (14/5) that she is proud to be the only one of Indonesian student who received the top three in the competition. She hoped there will be more people who know Indonesia. To commemorate the month of kid on Cayman Islands, non-profit organization in cooperation with Department of Child and Family Affairs of Cayman Islands held essay competition with the theme “The challenges that I face and how to face them”. Every year, the competition is participated in by hundreds of elementary students on Cayman Islands with age category 7 until 8 years and 9 until 12 years old. Naila was recorded as the only one student from Indonesia who succeeded in the top three of the essay competition 2018.

The next information is from Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  

Center for Assessment and Policy Development of the American and European Region, Agency for Assessment and Development Policy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Gajah Mada University held Foreign Policy Review Forum with the theme “Development of Economic and Trade Relations of Indonesia-Mercosur: International Political Economy Perspective". The forum was held at Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta on Friday (11/5). In his speech, Head of International Relations Department, Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro stated that the forum aimed to collect inputs from academic communities to help developing foreign policy related to Latin American countries. Head of Center for Assessment and Policy Development of the American and European Region, Leonard F. Hutabarat disclosed that the forum is a bridge among academicians, stakeholders, and governments in establishing recommendation of foreign policy. Head of Assessment Center for International Trade Cooperation at the Trade Ministry, Sri Nastiti also explained that there is opportunity to boost trade relations between Indonesia and Mercosur. The explanation is enriched with academic’s view of International Relation Department, Faculty of Social and Political knowledge, Gajah Mada University, Dr. Riza Noer Arfani who pointed out about the principles of intra-Mercosur cooperation and steps which can be considered by the government to optimize cooperation with Mercosur. Mercado del Sur - Mercosur is economic integration between Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Mercosur is also potential market for expansion of Indonesian export.

The last information through Diplomatic Corner is from Italy.

Indonesian students who joined in Indonesian Student Association in Italy held Indonesia Ciao Art Event. In the event, the students performed traditional and classical dances as well as modern dance from La Danza Moderna group from the Netherland. Deputy Head of Representative of Indonesian Embassy in Rome, J.S. George Lantu represented Indonesian Ambassador, Esti Andayani conveyed her appreciation to the Indonesian students who held cultural promotion event of Ciao Indonesia. J.S. George Lantu expected Indonesian people and students in Italy to always unify and help each other, especially towards National Awakening Day on May 20. Head of the Committee of Ciao Indonesia, Christopher Tanihaha said to Antara London on Sunday (13/5) that the event became the biggest and the first showcase of Indonesian culture  in Italy, and it was also supported by the Indonesian Embassy in Rome. In Ciao Indonesia, the socialization of General Election 2019 was also held.

Today in History over RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia. We start from an event on May 17, 1950 when association of Indonesian publisher was established.

Association of Indonesian publisher was established on May 17, 1950 in Jakarta on initiative and agreement of some national publishers at that time. In additional to encouragement to replace foreign publishers’ position, especially the Dutch which still monopolized book publishing activities in the country, the establishment of Association of Indonesian publisher was also imbued with great desire to help the government in establishing brilliant Indonesian people. When the establishment of the association only consisted of 13 publishers, now the number of its members has reached around 650 publishers throughout Indonesia. According to the history, the association of Indonesian publisher  still exists as the only one book publisher organization which is able to fight and to serve various concerns of its members.

The next event is that in 1980, national library was established.

Indonesian National Library is located in Jakarta. It has a duty to store state’s data and information. The library is also one of government’s agencies’ non-department which is under and responsible to the president. Earlier, the library was one of the realizations of the implementation and development of the national system of the library as a whole and integrated since it was planned its establishment on May 17, 1980 by the then Minister of Education and Culture, Daoed Joesoef. The agency is the result of integration of the four major libraries in Jakarta.

And the last event is about National Book Day.

Determination of May 17 as National Book Day was the initiative of education minister of mutual cooperation cabinet, Abdul Malik Fadjar since 2002. The decision of National Book Day is hoped to be able to encourage reading interest of Indonesian people, as well as to increase book’s sales. The date was chosen based on the date of the establishment of Indonesian National Library on May 7, 1980. The commemoration of Book Day is often related to reading interest in Indonesia which is still low. From study data of 'Most Literate Nation in the World' which has been released by Central Connecticut State University in 2016, Indonesia ranked in the 60th from 61 countries. The position was under Thailand and above Bostwana. To grow love of book reading becomes challenge for every individual. However, National Book Day commemoration is able to give positive impact in making people aware about the importance of the book. Even, to enliven the day, some institutions such as National Library holds event and activities aiming to invite people to visit the library.

Today Thursday, May 17, 2018, all Muslims in Indonesia and other parts of the world begin to perform fasting. The first day of fasting takes place shortly after a series of terrorist attacks in Surabaya, and Sidoarjo, East Java Province, which killed a total of 14 people. Regardless of whether or not there is a direct connection between the act of the terrorists and the month of Ramadan, the actions to terrorize the public may be said to "fail". This can be seen from the crowds of people who shop for the needs in the early Ramadan in crowded places, such as shopping malls or traditional markets and entertainment venues. Similar crowds are also seen in mosques or Mushallas filled with people performing the first Tarawih prayers.

Ramadan is a glorious month and a blessing for Muslims. During this Ramadan, all Muslims are obliged to fulfill fasting in a broad sense. They must be able to retrain from not only hunger, thirst but also anger and passion not to consume excessive food. Those who are fasting are strictly forbidden to commit sin, let alone killing someone.

The Indonesian Ulema Council -MUI appeals for Indonesian Muslims to make the holy month of Ramadan a moment of self-improvement. MUI also asked for the public to do a lot of social activities.

Ramadan is an excellent momentum to develop an attitude of tolerance in the practice of religion, not to be trapped in conflict and dispute because of differences in religions, especially after the recent occurrence of a series of terror acts in Surabaya, East Java.

Ramadan is the perfect time for Muslims to enlighten other followers of religions about the true meaning of 'Islam'. Islam never teaches to do something evil.

At the National Halaqah Hubul Wathon and the Declaration of the National Movement of Muballigh Bela Negara at Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in East Jakarta, Monday (14/5), President Joko Widodo emphasized that Islam never teaches violence, not to mention teaching terror among people. He views that Islam actually teaches its people to be gentle, polite, and respectful to others. Therefore, it is proper that Ramadan can be used as a momentum to create peace and tranquility in the community.