WARSHIP PARADE TO HIGHLIGHT SAIL RAJA AMPAT'S PEAK EVENT by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 12, 2014 (Antara) - After being delayed several times, international maritime event Sail Raja Ampat will finally be held in Raja Ampat District, West Papua, starting August 17, 2014, coinciding with the commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day.

         The peak event will be held in August 23 and will be highlighted with a parade of warships from Indonesia, Australia, and the United States.

         President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to be present during the parade, which will feature military fleet for peaceful purposes. The parade will be held in Torang Cinta Beach, Waisai, capital of Raja Ampat District.

         To support the Sail Raja Ampat, the government had allocated Rp1.5 trillion for development of infrastructure projects, such as constructions of an airport and piers, as well as hospitals in West Papua, over the last two years. Yudhoyono is expected to inaugurate some of the projects while visiting West Papua.

         Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono has confirmed in Waisai on August 11 that preparations for the implementation of Sail Raja Ampat have reached the final stages.

        "All preparations have been completed, so the event could be implemented as scheduled," Minister Laksono said.

        As part of the Sail Indonesia series, Sail Raja Ampat is the sixth event after Sail Bunaken in 2009, Sail Banda in 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitung in 2011, Sail Morotai in 2012, and Sail Komodo in 2013.

         The international maritime events have been organized with the objective of promoting tourism in the regions, accelerating development programs, improving access to isolated or remote areas, and improving welfare of the people.

        Several ministries, institutions, and public and private sectors are working in tandem to synergize various programs, which are expected to offer economic and cultural benefits to both the participants and the local communities. 
   Raja Ampat Islands is often dubbed "Heaven on Earth" for its alluring marine panoramas. To reach Raja Ampat, visitors have to travel to Sorong and proceed to Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat District, by a small plane or ferry boat.

       A number of hotels and inns located both in Sorong and Raja Ampat Districts have been made available to receive the guests.

        Flights to Sorong are operated by several national airlines, while the direct flights from Sorong to Raja Ampat are only served by Susi Air, with a maximum capacity of 14 passengers.

         In 2012, Raja Ampat had been included in the Real Wonder of the World list. It has been recognized as one of the world's 10 most beautiful diving sites and rated number one for its rich diversity of marine flora and fauna.

         Based on various studies by the world natural conservation agencies, such as Conservation International and Nature Conservancy, Raja Ampat waters are estimated to have 1397 fish species. The waters of Raja Ampat are also called "Capital for Fish in the World."
   It has 1,320 fish species; 75 percent of the world's coral species, 10 times the number of coral species in the Caribbean; five species of rare turtles; 57 species of mantis shrimps; 13 species of marine mammals; and 27 species of rare fish.

         There are also 60 varieties of crayfish and 699 types of soft animals or species of mollusks, comprising 530 species of snails (Gastropoda), 159 species of shells (bivalva), two species of Scaphopoda, five species of squid (Cephalopoda), and three Chiton species. 
    Australia and the United States have confirmed their participation in the Sail Raja Ampat, while other countries, such as India, China, Thailand, and Singapore, have expressed their interest in joining the maritime event, according to Brigadier General Gatot Triswanto, commander of the Jayapura Naval Fleet X.

         About two thousand military personnel will be deployed to secure the implementation of the Sail.

         Because of the presence of President Yudhoyono as well as important foreign dignitaries, the security in Raja Ampat and Sorong had been tightened since several days, according to Commander of the Regional Military Command XVII Cenderawasih Major General Christian Zebua.

          Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu recently stated that the Sail Raja Ampat 2014 event will be more attractive than the previous Sail Indonesian events.

         Raja Ampat, which literally means "Four Kings," had been derived from a local myth and has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world.

          The archipelago comprises around 1.7 thousand islands and encompasses more than 9.8 million acres of land and sea off the northwestern tip of the West Papua Province. It has four major islands--Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, and Misool--which are home to ancient rock paintings.   ***2***
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