VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

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.

Indonesia's active role in efforts to address environmental issues at the ASEAN level can be seen from the statement of Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, represented by the Head of Research and Development Agency and Innovation of the Ministry Agus Justianto at the 15th ASEAN Ministrial Meeting of Environment –AMME at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Agus Justianto conveyed the statement of the Minister of Environment and Forestry, that how important environmental issues in the ASEAN region are and the need for collaborative strategic steps to anticipate environmental problems in the region. The official statement also mentioned the corrective actions taken by the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to improve the quality of the environment in Indonesia.

The 15th Ministrial Meeting of Environment, which took place from October 7-11, discussed various environmental problems in the ASEAN region and discussed regional cooperation to anticipate the existing environmental problems. The discussion includes climate change, environmentally friendly city development, biodiversity conservation, clean coastal and marine environment, environmental education for young people, water resources management, chemical and hazardous waste management, control of cross-border haze pollution, and environmentally friendly schools.

There are three important matters discussed in the 15th Environment Ministrial Meeting. The matters are the adoption of a joint statement by ASEAN member countries on climate change which will be presented at the conference of parties to the framework of the United Nations climate change convention (COP 25 - UNFCCC) in Chile in December 2019. Then the draft of ASEAN Strategic Plan on Environment, ASPEN, and the establishment of five National Parks in Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as ASEAN Heritage Parks.

The 15th Environment Ministrial Meeting was opened by Vice Prime Minister concurrently Minister of Economy and Finance of Cambodia Akka Pundit Sapheacha Aun Pommoniroth, at Sofitel Utama, Cambodia followed by tree planting event at Angkor Wat tourism area.

During the meeting an evaluation of the work of the ASEAN Working Group (AWG) in the field of environment was also carried out and other proposed activities in the relevant environmental field to anticipating environmental problems in the ASEAN region. According to the agenda, the 16th Environment Ministrial Meeting will be held in Indonesia in 2021. Indonesia hopes that environmental issues will be better in the next two years and ASEAN member countries can more focus on the environmental issues anticipation.