Year-Ender : PAST YEAR MARKED BY INTENSE RI-UNESCO ENGAGEMENT by Fardah

       Jakarta, Dec 31, 2011 (ANTARA) - The year 2011 has been quite special for Indonesia and UNESCO as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono spoke at a UNESCO meeting in Paris, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova visited Indonesia, and Aceh`s Saman dance was recognized as a world cultural heritage.

      President Yudhoyono was invited to the special session of the 36th UNESCO General Conference to mark the 10th anniversary of the declaration of universal cultural diversity because UNESCO considered the country to be an example of cultural diversity that eventually became a source of strength.

Indonesia Demonstrates Continued Support For Palestine by Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 31, 2011 (ANTARA News) - It might be a small step forward, but it`s a victory any way for Palestine which became a full member of UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) this year, while hoping to become a full member of the United Nations, and most of all an independent country, free from Israeli occupation.
     Indonesia was a co-sponsor of the Palestinian bid for UNESCO membership, as the nation also supported Palestine`s bid for UN membership in New York, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in Paris on November 1, 2011.

Year-Ender: RI DEMONSTRATES STRONGER COMMITMENT TO NUKE-FREE WORLD by Fardah

      Jakarta, Dec 27, 2011 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when speaking at an International Defense Dialog in March 2011 said a real push towards nuclear disarmament by the nuclear powers has given a good reason for the world to be optimistic in looking at the future.

       This year, Indonesia has demonstrated a stronger commitment to promoting a peaceful world which is free from nuclear threats by ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Year-Ender: RELATIVELY CALM YEAR FOR DISASTER-PRONE RI by Fardah

         Jakarta, Dec 26, 2011 (ANTARA) - Thank God, this year Indonesia experienced fewer deadly natural disasters than in previous years like the 2004 devastating tsunami in Aceh, the powerful earthquakes in Padang and Mentawai, West Sumatra , in 2009 and 2010 respectively, the Wasior flood in Papua and Mount Merapi eruption in 2010.
       As a country located in the Pacific Ocean`s "Ring of Fire" of volcanoes and earthquakes, Indonesia is one of the world`s most disaster-prone countries.

Year-Ender: DAUNTING TASK OF PROTECTING MIGRANT WORKERS OVERSEAS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Dec 24, 2011 (ANTARA) - The year 2011 has been very busy year for Indonesian migrant workers and the government as well because of continuing problems such as ill treatments and legal problems, and the Arab Spring in particular.

     With almost five million Indonesians working overseas, the government has been forced to spend much energy, time and money on preparing policies and measures for their protection.

      Indonesia is one of the largest suppliers of migrant workers overseas such as in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, South Korea, and several countries experiencing Arab Spring uprising, like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria.

Year-Ender: RI GEARING UP FOR BIGGER ROLE IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Dec 20, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia which has been participating in UN peacekeeping missions since 1957, is now seeking a bigger role and wanting to be placed in the top ten contributors to the UN`s efforts to maintain peace in conflict-torn parts of the world.

       Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa in his annual statement in January 2011 stated the country`s commitment to contributing to world peacekeeping missions.
       "Indonesian diplomacy will continue showing Indonesia`s preparedness to increase its contribution to UN peacekeeping  missions to become one of the 10 biggest contributors to UN peace keeping forces," he said at the beginning of this year.

Since 1957 Indonesia has sent 24,284 military personnel to join UN peacekeeping missions in a number of countries: Egypt, Bosnia, Congo, Cambodia, Haiti and Lebanon.

In 2010, Indonesia sent some 1,785 military personnel to seven UN missions under its commitment to world peace maintenance, making it one of the top 20 countries sending peacekeeping forces.

Before this year ends, the government has realized its commitment by building an Indonesian Peace and Security Center (IPSC), which was inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Sentul, Bogor District, West Java Province, on December 19, 2011.

The 240-hectare IPSC facility includes a center to train and prepare military personnel for participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Year-Ender: MONTARA OIL SPILL VICTIMS STILL AWAITING PROMISED COMPENSATION by Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 19, 2011 (ANTARA) - East Nusatenggara (NTT) fishermen who lost their livelihoods by the Montara oil spill in 2009 are still waiting for the promised compensations, two years after the disaster.
     An explosion that occurred in the Montara oil field on August 21, 2009 caused an oil pipe to burst and the resulting oil spill to contaminate the Timor Sea.

ARAB SPRING MAKES 2011 BUSY YEAR FOR INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 16, 2011 (ANTARA) - Geographically Indonesia is quite far from Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen - Arab countries that experienced popular uprisings known as "Arab Spring" or "Arab Awakening".

But the fact that many Indonesian students and migrant workers were in those countries, has made the Indonesian government busy protecting and evacuating their citizens in those nations torn by political violence.

RI APPLAUDED FOR RATIFYING NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 8, 2011 (ANTARA) - Fifteen years after the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (cTBT) was opened for signature, Indonesia has finally agreed to ratify the treaty, a decision that has been applauded by world leaders who said it helped the world move closer to end nuclear tests.

"Indonesia has always vigorously supported the CTBT and was among the first to sign when the Treaty was opened for signature on 24 September 1996. However, as a matter of principle, it deferred the ratification process on the principle that states that possessed nuclear weapons should commit to the Treaty ahead of anyone else," the Indonesian foreign ministry said in a statement recently.

RI DELEGATION TO DURBAN BEARING NATIONAL, GLOBAL MISSIONS by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 6, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has sent a large delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Durban, South Africa and charged it with a national and global mission.

The first and most important mission was to seek opportunities and establish cooperation in environmental management beneficial to Indonesia.

Year-ender: DEFORESTATION MORATORIUM, REDD+ DECREES IN PLACE FOR FORESTS PRESERVATION by Fardah

      Jakarta, Dec 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - Hosting the world's third largest forest area, Indonesia  badly needs a legal basis to protect and preserve its remaining tropical forests that are often referred to  the "world's lung."
    Indonesia has a very high deforestation rate at 1.1 million hectares per year, and has been accused as the world's third-largest gas emitter.  

Year-Ender: INDONESIA SUCCESSFULLY TAKES ASEAN TO GREATER HEIGHT by Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 3, 2011 (ANTARA)- When Indonesia assumed the ASEAN chairmanship in January 2011,  ASEAN Secretary General  Dr Surin Pitsuwan expressed optimism that the country could take ASEAN to a greater height.

"Indonesia has weight,  international legitimacy and  global appeal to draw tremendous support and attention from around the world to the ASEAN community building efforts that we are all engaging in now," Dr Surin said as quoted on the official website of the ASEAN Secretariat early this year.

BALI HOPING TO JOIN UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE LIST by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 2, 2011 (ANTARA) - Bali also known as the Island of Gods and the Island of A Thousand Temples, has very rich Hindu-predominantly traditions and culture.

Spiritual activities are reflected in every facet of life in Bali, which has a lot of traditional wisdom to offer to the world.

UNESCO CHIEF'S VISIT BRINGS AGENCY CLOSER TO INDONESIA by Fardah

       Jakarta, Nov 30, 2011 (ANTARA) - UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova made her first official visit to Indonesia from November 19 to 25 during which she went through a quite hectic agenda.
       Within the relatively short period of six days, she among other things visited the World Heritage site of Borobudur in Magelang, Central Java, Bali Island and Jakarta.

RI OPTIMISTIC TO SURPASS ONE BILLION TREE TARGET By Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 28, 2011 (ANTARA) - All regions in Indonesia simultaneously planted thousands of trees to mark Indonesian Tree Planting Day and National Planting Month led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Merah Putih Hill, Sentul, Citeureup, Bogor, West Java Province, on Monday (Nov 28).
       The presidential tree planting ceremony was the signal for the simultaneous execution of the same activity by at least 8,820 people including servicemen and police officers, boy and girl scouts, and students.

EMERGING EVIDENCE SHEDS SOME LIGHT ON ORANGUTAN KILLING CASE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 28, 2011 (ANTARA) - At the beginning, some people considered a report on the slaughtering of Kalimantan (Borneo) orangutan (pongo pygmaeus morio) a "mere rumor" despite the fact that several photos showing dead orangutans were received by a local newspaper last September.
       The killings of orangutan often considered as pest by oil palm plantation companies, reportedly had occurred from 2009 to 2010 at Puan Cepak village, Muara Kaman sub district, Kutai Kartanegara District, East Kalimantan Province.

ACEH'S SAMAN DANCE JOINS UNESCO'S LIST OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 24, 2011 (ANTARA) - Aceh`s Saman dance, well-known abroad as "Thousand hands" dance, is something warranting a sense of national pride among Indonesians because of its uniqueness.
       It does not need music instruments but it produces harmonious sound, and it does not require a lot of space, but the dancers move very energetically, dynamically and with excellent coordination.
       And more than that, the traditional dance in the past performed only by male dancers, conveys religious and noble messages.

US MILY PRESENCE IN DARWIN AROUSES SUSPICION IN MANY QUARTERS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard reportedly assured President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonp in separate meetings in Bali recently that the planned deployment of US troops in Darwin spelled no harm to Indonesia or the South East Asian region.

        However, Obama`s and Gillard`s assurances have failed to convince some legislators and political observers in Indonesia, which is located only around 820 km (500 miles) from Darwin, Australia, where the US has decided to set up a military presence.

News Focus: ASEAN Leaders Reiterate Commitment to Supporting Palestine by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 22, 2011 (ANTARA) - A few United Nations Security Council members may try to block Palestine's bid for full UN membership but ASEAN leaders are determined to continue giving their support to Palestine.       The ASEAN Leaders` support was expressed in the ASEAN Chair`s statement issued during the 19th ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali on November 18, 2011.       "We reiterate our support for the capacity-building of the state institutions of Palestine and we also support Palestine`s wish to be a full member of the United Nations," the ASEAN leaders said in the statement`s 152nd point.

ASEAN LEADERS AGREE TO ENHANCE COOPERATION IN FLOOD PREVENTION by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 18, 2011 (ANTARA) - Floods hitting several Southeast Asian nations, Thailand in particular, received special attention from ASEAN leaders and led them to agree on the need to forge regional cooperation in flood prevention and mitigation

         The ASEAN leaders at the 19th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Bali on Thursday (Nov 17) adopted a Chairman`s Statement on Cooperation in Flood Prevention, Mitigation, Relief, Recovery, and Rehabilitation, initiated by Thailand which is the hardest hit by the floods in the region.

ASEAN READY TO ACCEPT MYANMAR'S ASEAN CHAIRMANSHIP IN 2014 by Fardah

      Nusa Dua, Bali, Nov 17, 2011 (ANTARA) - After a regional controversy regarding Myanmar`s bid for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2014, the ASEAN leaders at their 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali on Thursday (Nov 17) finally decided to allow the military-backed Myanmar government to lead the regional grouping three years from now.
      Myanmar was initially scheduled to hold the rotating ASEAN Chairmanship in 2006 but it was forced to forgo the position due to human rights problems.

GOVT TO STEP UP SOCIO-ECONOMIC APPROACH TOWARD PAPUA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 16, 2011 (ANTARA) - Poverty and perceived injustices are believed to be among the problems triggering violence from time to time in Indonesia`s eastern most provinces of Papua and West Papua, which are resource-rich regions but among the least developed ones.
      Eight years since the special autonomy status was given to Papua, poverty and backwardness still linger on until today.

HTI again says "no" to Obama visit by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 15, 2011 (ANTARA News) - A year ago, Barack Obama as the US president, made his first visit to Indonesia which he described as "pulang kampung" (home coming) because he had once spent his childhood at Menteng, Jakarta.
     His visit in November 2010 was welcomed by many parties and Obama was even able to "charm" a few Indonesians when he spoke at the University of Indonesia.
     But, for sure, "the Menteng kid" has not succeeded in changing the stance of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) Muslim organization which has rejected him since the beginning.

TNI, POLRI TAKE SECURITY MEASURES FOR ASEAN SUMMIT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 14, 2011 (ANTARA) - The National Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) have put in place measures to ensure the security of the 19th ASEAN Summit, the Sixth East Asian Summit and related meetings to be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from November 17 to 19, 2011.
        The summits` security is crucial due to the planned participation of around 16 heads of state/government from ASEAN member countries and dialog partners, namely India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

RI HAILS PROVISIONAL INCLUSION OF KOMODO IN NEW7WONDERS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 12, 2011 (ANTARA) - After high-profile efforts to mobilize the Indonesian people`s support and despite a controversy over its participation in the New7Wonders of Nature competition, the Komodo has finally been provisionally shortlisted as one of the winners.
       On its official website Friday (Nov 11), the New7Wonders Foundation announced the first count of vote results of the provisional New7Wonders of Nature sites, namely the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River, and Table Mountain.

DANGEROUS CONDITION IN SURABAYA ZOO MUST END by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 10, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Surabaya Zoo (KBS) used to be a favorite recreational place for Surabaya residents, particularly students who often hang out there and appreciate the zoo`s beautiful nature and wildlife.
        But since the past several years, the zoo has seemingly turned into a "place of horror" or "death camp" for the exotic and rare animals kept there as around 2,000 animals have perished mostly due to alleged negligence.

BALI SUMMITS EXPECTED TO YIELD HISTORIC DOCUMENTS by Fardah

       Jakarta, Nov 9, 2011 (ANTARA) - To make sure maximum efforts were being made to ensure the success of the upcoming ASEAN and East Asian Summits in Bali, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for a second time personally checked the preparations and venues of the summits in Nusa Dua, Bali Island, on November 8-9, 2011.
       Yudhoyono wanted to see to it that the ASEAN Summit and its related meetings in Bali would proceed successfully not only in organizational but also in substantive terms.

MORE PREHISTORIC ARTIFACTS WAITING TO BE UNEARTHED IN INDONESIA by Fardah

       Jakarta, Nov 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - More and more prehistoric artifacts have been surfacing in Indonesia`s islands from Sumatra to Papua over the years, attesting to very deep roots of the country`s civilization.
       The discovery of fossil remains of Pithecanthropus Erectus or "Java Man", the extinct hominid on the island of Java, proves that Indonesia was already inhabited bas early as two million to 500,000 years ago.
       The fossil remains comprising skullcap and thighbone discovered by Eugene Dubois, a Dutch anatomist and geologist, in the early 1890s, were the first known fossils of the species Homo erectus.

CAMPAIGN ON KOMODO UNITES INDONESIAN PEOPLE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 4, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Komodo dragon, the world`s last remaining prehistoric giant lizard, is to be found only in Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, but the campaign to make Komodo one of the New7Wonders of Nature has received support from people throughout Indonesia.
       As of October 15, 2011, Indonesia`s major telecommunication operators such as Telkomsel, XL, Indosat, and Telkom Flexi have provided free SMS (short message text service) for those wanting to give their votes to support Komodo Island as one of the 28 official finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature (N7WN) competition.

Indonesia disagrees with US on Palestine's UNESCO membership by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 2, 2011  (ANTARA News) - Palestine`s bid for UNESCO membership is in accordance with the vision of a two-state solution and therefore Indonesia was supporting it, despite opposition from the US government.
     "Indonesia`s stance is different, of course. Indonesia was even one of the co-sponsors of the Palestinian bid for UNESCO membership, as we also support Palestine`s bid for UN membership in New York," Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in Paris on Tuesday (Nov 1).

JAKARTA BRACING FOR POTENTIAL MAJOR FLOODS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 31, 2011 (ANTARA) - Jakarta is bracing for the possibility of floods happening in early 2012 on the same scale as the 2002 and 2007 deluges which were described as the biggest ever floods that had hit the capital city in terms of size and casualties.
      With a population of around 10 million Jakarta is basically prone to annual flooding in every rainy season due among other things to poor drainage system and lack of water catchment areas. Besides, Jakarta lies in a lowland with 43 lakes and 13 rivers.

ASEAN MOVES CLOSER TO ADOPTION OF COMMON VISA by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 31, 2011 (ANTARA) - The 19th ASEAN Summit to be held in Bali on November 17-19, 2011, is expected to discuss among other things the proposed common ASEAN visa system as part of the ASEAN connectivity plan.
       ASEAN foreign ministers at their 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bali recently agreed to study further the common visa proposal, Widya Rahmanto, an official of the foreign ministry`s ASEAN cooperation directorate general, said in Jakarta on October 27, 2011.

E JAVA BEEFS UP IMMUNIZATION TO FIGHT DIPHTHERIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 28, 2011 (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Soekarwo on October 7, 2011, declared an extraordinary situation (KLB) for diphtheria in all parts of the province where 352 diphtheria cases with 11 deaths have been reported over the past 10 months.
        Head of the East Java Health Office Mudjib Afan said in Surabaya, recently, that a total of 333 children aged between two and 14 years old, have been infected with diphtheria in the province, up from 303 children last year.

INDONESIA GREETS ASEAN PEOPLE THROUGH ASEAN FAIR by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - Do you want to see cultural , culinary and creative products of the ten ASEAN member countries? Just visit the ongoing ASEAN Fair 2011 and one can satisfy one`s curiosity without actually having to travel to those countries.
        The ASEAN Fair 2011 featuring music and food festivals, theatrical performances, and book and handicrafts expos, was officially kicked off by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Nusa Dua, Bali, on October 24.

POLICE DEPLOY MORE PERSONNEL TO DEFUSE TENSIONS IN PAPUA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - Following a series of shooting incidents in Papua Province that killed several people, including Mulia Sector Police Chief Adjunct Commissioner Domminggus Awes, the Police Headquarters in Jakarta have deployed a number of officers in the country`s eastern-most province to defuse escalating tensions there.
       Two unidentified men snatched Dominggus Awes` pistol and used it to shoot him to death at Mulia airport in Puncak Jaya on Monday (Oct 24).

GOVT ADMITS HOLLYWOOD FILMS CAN HELP PROMOTE TOURISM by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 24, 2011 (ANTARA) - "Eat, Pray and Love", a film version of Elizabeth Gilbert`s best selling memoirs "Eat Pray Love", starring superstar Julia Robert, has been effective in promoting Bali, known as the "Island of the Gods".
       The film tells the story of Liz Gilbert and her year-long journey to Italy, India and Indonesia as she seeks to find balance and fulfillment in her life following the breakdown of her marriage.

INDONESIANS STILL HAVE 18 DAYS TO VOTE FOR KOMODO by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - As of October 15, 2011, Indonesia`s major telecommunication operators such as Telkomsel, XL, Indosat, and Telkom Flexi have provided free SMS (short message text service) for those wanting to give their votes to support Komodo Island as one of the 28 Official Finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature (N7WN).

     Komodo Island located in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is the only island in the world which has komodo dragons, the giant lizards. The Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, altogether covering a total area of 1,817 square kilometers.

INDONESIA ON ALERT OVER RETURN OF BIRD FLU by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 20, 2011 (ANTARA) - Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih has been closely following the apparent return of bird flu or avian influenza (H5N1) in some regions in Indonesia lately and reminded the concerned parties and the public in general to be on alert.

      "We must wash our hands after touching poultry. This simple thing is the most effective way to prevent influenza, including bird flu," the minister said, adding that poultry farmers must improve hygiene.

INDONESIA DETERMINED TO BECOME POLIO, MEASLES-FREE NATION by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 19, 2011 (ANTARA) - In addition to the routine immunization program using five vaccines to prevent tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and hepatitis B, the government is currently conducting a mass immunization campaign against polio and measles in its efforts to free the nation from polio and measles.
       The expanded mass immunization drive against polio and measles began simultaneously on Tuesday (Oct 18) and lasted until November 18, 2011 in 17 provinces.

FREEPORT STRIKE DRAGS ON by Fardah

        Jakarta, Oct 19, 2011 (ANTARA) - A strike by a number of PT Freeport Indonesia workers in Timika, Papua, has been going for more than one month without signs that a peaceful solution to their dispute with the company`s management can be found soon while the situation in Freeport`s concession area is getting more complicated.
      A clash between gun-toting police and rock-throwing strikers in Timika, on October 10, 2011, killed one demonstrator and one police officer, as well as injured several people.

SUMATRAN TIGERS NEED TO BE PROTECTED by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 17, 2011 (ANTARA) - It`s tragic that amid a "Save Tigers` Home" tour in Sumatra by an NGO, a Sumatran tiger (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae) was shot dead at Korong Sikuliek, Nagari Sungai Buluh, Batang Anai sub district, Padangpariaman District, West Sumatra, last October 15, 2011.
       Batang Anai Sub-district Head Syofriyon said the tiger had been found inside a wild boar trap located around four kilometers from a human settlement.

TEAM TO SAVE MIGRANT WORKERS' LIVES IN SAUDI ARABIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 15, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government is racing against time to save the lives of seven migrant workers on death row in Saudi Arabia, where over 900,000 Indonesians work at present, making it the second biggest user of Indonesian manpower after Malaysia.
       A team led by Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni, the head of the Task Force on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, will leave for Saudi Arabia on October 16, 2011, to lobby certain parties in the Middle Eastern country in order to obtain legal relief for the seven workers.

GOVT TO INCREASE PEARL PRODUCTION TO SEVEN MLN TONS ANNUALLY by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 14, 2011 (ANTARA) - Having the potential to produce up to 20 million tons of south sea pearl (SSP) a year, Indonesia intends to increase its pearl production to seven million in 2011 from 5.7 million tons in 2010.
      The country has so far used only around 28.5 percent of its pearl cultivation potentials in eastern Indonesian waters such as in West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku Islands, and Papua.

BALI GEARS UP FOR ASEAN, ASEAN+3, EAST ASIA SUMMITS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 12, 2011 (ANTARA) - Bali which hosted the first ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit in February 1976, will be the venue of another ASEAN Summit on November 17, 2011.
       The upcoming 19th ASEAN Summit will be the second ASEAN summit organized by Indonesia, the current Chair of ASEAN, this year after the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, May 2011.

RI, S KOREA ENGAGE IN HIGHER-LEVEL DEFENSE COOPERATION by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 8, 2011 (ANTARA) - Famed South Korean actor Hyun Bin caught the Indonesian media`s attention when he attended the celebration of the 66th anniversary of the National Defense Forces (TNI) in Jakarta, last October 5, 2011.
       Heartthrob Hyun Bin (29), a member of South Korea`s Marine Corps who was appointed South Korea`s defense industry ambassador, received an Honorary Marine Brevet from the Indonesian Navy for his services.

ASEAN PLUS THREE TO INTENSIFY FOOD SECURITY COOPERATION by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 7, 2011 (ANTARA) - Rice is an important factor in achieving food security in the Southeast Asian region as around two-thirds of world rice production originate in ASEAN Plus Three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea) and more than half of the world`s rice exports comes from this region.
          To guarantee long-term food security, the 10-member ASEAN and its three partner countries signed the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Agreement on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Plus Three Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF Plus Three) in Jakarta on Friday (Oct. 7, 2011).

MONTARA OIL SPILL VICTIMS STILL WAITING FOR COMPENSATION by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 6, 2011 (ANTARA) - Victims of the Montara oil spill in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have been waiting for compensation from PTTEP Australasia, the Thai company operating the Montara oil field, for more than two years.
       An explosion occurred in the Montara oil field on August 21, 2009 causing an oil pipe to burst and the resulting oil spill to contaminate the Timor Sea in NTT Province. As a consequence, 40 million liters of crude oil were released into Australian waters and eventually into Indonesian waters. Some 70,341.76 square kilometers of the Timor Sea part of which borders on NTT province was polluted.

KOMODO ISLAND PROMOTION ACTIVITIES BEING INTENSIFIED by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - The tourism and culture ministry has decided to withdraw the candidacy of Komodo for inclusion in the New Seven Wonders of Nature (N7WN) list, but an NGO, the P2Komodo (Supporting Committee for Komodo Island) is determined to continue the Komodo campaign for N7WN.
       Despite their differences, both the government and P2Komodo have been intensifying promotion activities of the unique island, which is home to the Komodo dragon, the world`s largest lizard, internationally and nationally.

RAINFOREST CONSERVATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT CRUCIAL FOR ORANGUTAN'S SURVIVAL by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 4, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is home to the world`s remaining population of critically endangered orangutans found on Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo) Islands.
      It is estimated that around 50,000 to 60,000 orangutans are left in the wild, 80 percent of them in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia. Of the total number, about 7,300 orangutans are to be found in Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra provinces, and many others in Central, West and East Kalimantan provinces.

YOUNGER GENERATION PLAYS IMPORTANT ROLE IN GREEN ECONOMICS PROGRAMS by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 3, 2011 (ANTARA) - Around 1,200 young people from over 100 countries participating in the UNEP Tunza International Children and Youth Conference in Bandung, West Java, September 27-October 1, 2011, voiced their concern about planet Earth`s future.
        "The trend and science tell us that we cannot wait another generation (until a Rio+40) before acting - the green economy is our only future," the young people stated in a Bandung Declaration issued on the final day of the conference.

GREEN ECONOMICS BENEFICIAL TO INDONESIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 28, 2011 (ANTARA) - The application of green economics principles in Indonesia is relatively new, but the nation as well as international experts have seen significant benefits of the policy.
       The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in its new report entitled "The Orangutan and the Economics of Forest Conservation in Sumatra" which was launched in Jakarta, on September 28, 2011, said conserving key rainforests in Indonesia could generate considerable revenues and multiple Green Economy benefits from combating climate change, securing water supplies and improved livelihoods while throwing a life line to the world`s remaining populations of orangutans.

POLICE SEE LINK BETWEEN SOLO , CIREBON SUICIDE BOMBERS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 27, 2011 (ANTARA) - Police have linked Ahmad Urip, the perpetrator of Sunday`s suicide bombing attack on a church in Solo, to Mochamad Syarif who died in the same way in a Cirebon mosque last April.
       "Ahmad was a member of JAT`s Cirebon chapter, and also a friend of Mochamad Syarif, the suicide bomber at the Adz Zikra Mosque in Cirebon (on April 15, 2011)," Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam, the head of the National Police`s public relations division, told the press in Jakarta on Tuesday (Sept 27).

GOVT MOVES FORWARD TO REALIZE CO2 EMISSION CUT PLEDGE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 26, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government has signed at least two important decrees this month to support its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 26 percent by 2020 in order to tackle climate change`s impacts.
      First, on September 8, 2011, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) signed Presidential Decree Decree No. 25 of 2011 to extend the work period for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Task Force, until December 31, 2012.

GOVT PREPARES PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE FISHERMEN'S WELFARE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 24, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has the world`s second longest coastlines after Canada, and therefore it is not surprising if around 60 percent of its total 237 million population live in coastal areas.
      Despite Indonesia`s huge marine potentials, however, Indonesia has so far been able to utilize only eight percent of its marine potentials, according to Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad recently.
      Most of people living in coastal areas are fishermen and they reside in a total of around 10,300 coastal villages, and some 25.6 percent of them are underprivileged.

INDONESIA POISED TO BECOME GLOBAL HOME OF BATIK by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - Batik lovers must not miss this upcoming event - a World Batik Summit to be held at the Jakarta Convention Center, from September 28 to October 2, 2011.
       To be organized by the Indonesian Batik Foundation (YBI) in cooperation with the government, the Batik Summit will consist of two main events: the World Batik Exhibition (WBE) and the World Batik Conference (WBC).

C KALIMANTAN HOSTS REDD+ PILOT PROJECT by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 22, 2011 (ANTARA) - Central Kalimantan Province which still has a vast area of virgin forests has been selected to host a REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus) pilot project , a program designed to preserve forest ecosystems and tackling climate change.
       The initial pilot project was launched by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Gregory Laurence Moriarty in Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan Province, last September 15, 2011.

RI wants to see Palestine gains statehood through UN by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 22, 2011 (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has expressed its support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas`s intention to secure full United Nations membership for his country with the formal bid to be made on Friday, September 23, 2011.
     The support was once again expressed by Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart Riad al-Maliki on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly session at the UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday (Sept 20).

RI BOOSTING INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE COOPERATION by Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept 21, 2011 (ANTARA) - The year 2011 has witnessed significant defense cooperation forging activity between Indonesia and a few other nations such as Russia, South Korea, China, Serbia, and India.

     The international cooperation is in accordance with the government`s plan to modernize the country`s main armament system (Alutsista) in order to optimally support the National Defense Forces in carrying out its tasks to protect the national land, maritime and air territories.

TNI TO MODERNIZE ITS MAIN ARMAMENT SYSTEM by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 20, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia`s National Defense Forces (TNI), with the support of the government and the parliament, is determined to modernize its main armament system in order to be able to properly protect the country`s land, maritime and air territories.
      The government`s commitment to improve the TNI`s armament system was expressed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his state address delivered on August 16 before members of the House of Representatives (DPR), the People`s Consultative Assembly (MPR), and Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

FOREST FIRES COULD HINDER C02 CUTTING EFFORTS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 18, 2011 (ANTARA) - Forest fire hot spots have been detected in around 10 provinces in Indonesia during the present dry season which has also triggered water crisis especially on Java Island.
      The forestry ministry`s data obtained from NOAA Satellite 18, showed that there were 22,120 hot spots throughout Indonesia from January to September 12, 2011.

PT FREEPORT WORKERS ON MONTH-LONG STRIKE OVER WAGE RISE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 17, 2011 (ANTARA) - Thousands of PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) workers left the mining site of Tembagapura for Timika, Mimika District, Papua Province, Thursday (Sept. 15), to begin a one-month strike to demand a salary rise.
      Freeport`s underground mining operations have been totally halted since Wednesday (Sept. 14) at 10.30 pm local time, Oktavianus Hisage, one of the US copper and gold mining company`s workers, said in Timika on Thursday.

VISITS OF THREE ASEAN MEMBERS' LEADERS STRENGTHEN BILATERAL, REGIONAL TIES by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 15, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia, the current ASEAN Chair, was visited by the leaders of three other ASEAN member countries, namely the Thai prime minister, the Vietnamese prime minister and Singapore`s deputy prime minister, earlier this week.
      President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his guests discussed bilateral cooperation that in turn will help strengthen ASEAN regional cooperation.

DELAY, CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS BUG E-ID CARD PROJECT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 14, 2011 (ANTARA) - The electronic identity (e-ID) card project has gained media attention due to the late arrival of equipment delaying the project`s implementation, and corruption allegations.
      The e-ID card or e-KTP program was supposed to have been launched in several cities simultaneously on August 1, 2011.

RI AGAIN GARNERS SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE'S BID FOR UN MEMBERSHIP by Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept 12, 2011 (ANTARA) - As a staunch supporter of Palestine, Indonesia once again lobbied Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) members to support Palestine`s bid for full UN membership.
      A number of NAM member states had yet to recognize Palestine`s independence and therefore, the Indonesian government approached them, Michael Tene, a spokesman of the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry, said in Jakarta, on September 9, 2011.

GOVT DETERMINED TO FIGHT FOREST FIRES AS HOT SPOTS PROLIFERATE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 9, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government appears to be determined to reduce the number of forest fire hot spots by 20 percent annually in order to help meet the country`s pledge to cut its gas emissions by 26 percent by 2020.
       "Indonesia has successfully reduced the number of forest fires over the past three years, and this year, the government is determined to do a similar thing as the National Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted a prolonged drought since May," the forestry ministry`s Forestry Protection and Nature Conservation Director General (PHKA) Darori said here on Wednesday (Sept 7).

ACEH EARTHQUAKE FELT IN THREE RI PROVINCES, MALAYSIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 7, 2011 (ANTARA) - In the wee hours of Tuesday (Sept 6), a number of Sumatran people who were soundly asleep in their beds, were shocked and immediately rushed out of their houses in panic as they felt a strong tremor that lasted up to two minutes.
      They were awakened by a tectonic earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale that rocked the western coast of southern Aceh Province, on Tuesday at 00.55 am local time, which was felt not only in Aceh, but also in North Sumatra and West Sumatra Provinces, and even in Malaysia.

IDUL FITRI TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS UP, POLICE TO EVALUATE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - Millions of Idul Fitri travelers hit the roads again in a reverse Idul Fitri exodus which peaked on Saturday and Sunday (September 3 and 4), after celebrating the Muslim festivity with relatives in their hometowns.
      The post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran in Indonesia, the world`s largest Muslim majority country, fell on August 31 (or August 30 for some others).

IDUL FITRI HOLIDAYS HELP BOOST DOMESTIC TOURISM INDUSTRY by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 3, 2011 (ANTARA) - Many of the 237-million Indonesian people are in the mood for holidaying in the post-fasting Idul Fitri Muslim festivity, as they have flocked to tourist attractions throughout the country since the past few days.
        To celebrate the Idul Fitri which fell on August 31 (or 30 for some others), the government has announced that the national holidays and joint leave days are from August 29 to to September 3, 2011. With Saturday and Sunday, the Indonesian people have nine days holidays in total for Idul Fitri 2011.

DRIVERS', PASSENGERS' HEALTH BECOMES CONCERN DURING IDUL FITRI EXODUS by Fardah

       Jakarta, Aug 29, 2011 (ANTARA) - Various Indonesian regions have taken a number of steps to anticipate the health risks of home-bound travelers and bus drivers during the Idul Fitri exodus or known as "mudik".
       Hospitals and community health centers have been put on standby for 24 hours from Day-7 to Day+7 of Idul Fitri holidays.

SRI LANKAN IMMIGRANTS IN DESPAIR, FINALLY SURRENDER by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 27, 2011 (ANTARA) - Some 88 Sri Lankan immigrants who had been living in despair aboard their boat, the MV Alicia, since July 10, 2011, finally surrendered to the Tanjungpinang Immigration Office because there was not enough food and drinking water on their crowded vessel.

       Their misery came into the public spotlight on Wednesday (Aug 24) when five Sri Lankan men decided to jump off the boat, They swam for more than two hours to a nearby isle because they could no longer stand living aboard the boat with very limited food and water that had to be shared with over 80 other immigrants.

IDUL FITRI TRAVEL SAFETY MEASURES : FROM URINE TESTS TO SNIPERS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - Various measures have been taken to secure the impending exodus of over 15 million home-bound travelers wanting to celebrate the Idul Fitri Muslim festivity with relatives or friends in their home towns or villages.
       The exodus, which has become an annual tradition for Indonesian Muslims, has made the government extremely busy with preparing the facilities, infrastructures, transportation means and security measures for the people who would be on the move en masse.

ANTICIPATING IMPACTS OF US, EUROPE DEBT CRISES ON INDONESIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - The global economy is still shaky having just begun to recover from the 2008 global recession, and yet the world is now witnessing financial crises in the United States and Europe which are beset by debt woes.
       Some analysts are worried that the economic crises might spin out of control. A number of countries, including Indonesia, have started anticipating the impacts of the crises on their economy.

POLICE POISED TO SECURE , SERVE IDUL FITRI TRAVELERS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 22, 2011 (ANTARA) - As the post-fasting Idul Fitri celebration approaches, a total of 96,393 police personnel are being deployed to ensure public safety and enjoyable trips during the Muslim holiday exodus.

      The police personnel consist of 769 officers from the National Police Headquarters and 95,624 officers from the regional police offices, National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said when launching "Operation Ketupat" which is to last from August 22 to September 6, 2011.

DRY SEASON COMES, ALONG WITH FOREST FIRES by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 19, 2011 (ANTARA) - Almost every year during the dry season several provinces in Indonesia are hit by forest and plantation fires.
      During August 2011 alone, some 11,000 hotspots were detected in Riau, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan Provinces, according to data of the environmental affairs ministry.
      However, the forestry ministry`s data showed that during January-July 2011, the number of hotspots in Indonesia was 8,082.

MP3EI, STRATEGIC BREAKTHROUGH TO ACCELERATE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 18, 2011 (ANTARA)- As part of the agenda of "development for all", the government last May 2011 launched the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) 2011-2025 for the even distribution of development in all the regions in the country.

     When delivering his State Address before a joint session of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD) at the Parliament Building here Wednesday (August 16), President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono described the MP3EI as a strategic breakthrough.

PROs AND CONs ON KOMODO'S WITHDRAWAL FROM NEW7WONDERS COMPETITION by Fardah

       Jakarta, Aug 16, 2011 (ANTARA) - The culture and tourism ministry`s decision to withdraw the Komodo National Park from participation in the final evaluation round in the competition for the New Seven Wonders of Nature (N7WN) title has drawn pro and contra reactions.
       After being in `dispute` with the Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation for several months, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik finally announced the decision on the withdrawal on Monday (Aug. 15, 2011).

NAZARUDDIN CASE ANOTHER TEST FOR LAW ENFORCERS' INTEGRITY by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 15, 2011 (ANTARA) - Former Democrat Party treasurer Nazaruddin`s saga is developing into another law enforcement case where the integrity, honesty and uprightness of the law enforcing agencies will be put to the test.
       The public is wondering whether Nazaruddin`s case will not meet the same fate as the Bank Century bailout case, the Antasari case and the Gayus Tambunan tax mafia case which all ended in an anticlimax.

BALIEM VALLEY FESTIVAL HELPS PROMOTE PAPUA INTERNATIONALLY by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 12, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is not only Bali, but there are a lot of other places with interesting culture and nature throughout its over 13,000 islands from Sabang in the country`s western most province of Aceh to Merauke in the easternmost province of Papua.

      Irian Island or Papua is home to an incredibly diverse, rich and unique flora and fauna. No less than 85% of the island is covered by rainforest, much of it primary and untouched by man.

COLOMBIAN POLICE FINALLY STOP RUNAWAY NAZARUDDIN by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 10, 2011 (ANTARA) - After being on the run in three continents for about 75 days, Nazaruddin, the former Democrat Party treasurer suspected of involvement in a corruption case, was finally arrested by Colombian Police recently.
       Nazaruddin was caught in Cartagena, a small town located over 600 km from Bogota, Colombia, South America, on Sunday (August 7, 2011), by local police who suspected him of using a fake passport.

GOVT TO PROMOTE BATIK AS FLAGSHIP PRODUCT by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 8, 2011 (ANTARA) - Batik industry has been booming following the increased public enthusiasm of wearing the traditional clothes particularly since the inclusion of batik by UNESCO in "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" items on September 30, 2009.
       On October 2, 2009, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on all Indonesians to wear batik on that day to celebrate UNESCO`s decision.

CAMPAIGN TO HELP DARWIN-AMBON YACHT RACE REGAIN FORMER GLORY by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Maluku and Darwin authorities will promote the Darwin-Ambon International Yacht Race and Rally in ASEAN and other countries in the hope the annual event will thereby be able to regain its former glory.
      The Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race and Rally is an event to explore some of the 17,000 amazing islands of the Indonesian Archipelago, under the umbrella of the Sister City Program between Ambon City and Darwin City.

DEVELOPING NATIONS MUST PRIORITIZE FIGHT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 3, 2011 (ANTARA) - A Dutch gynecologist has called cervical cancer (or cancer of the cervix)  a developing country disease because 80 percent of people suffering from the disease  live in developing nations.

         Prof A.P.M. Heintz warned the number of cervical cancer patients may reach 20 million by 2020 worldwide.

LATE ARRIVAL OF EQUIPMENT DELAYS E-ID CARD PROGRAM by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 2, 2011 (ANTARA) - Both Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzie and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo have expressed disappointment about the late arrival of equipment for the electronic identification (E-ID) program.
       Several cities have announced that they had to delay the implementation of the new ID program which was supposed to begin simultaneously on August 1, 2011, because they had not received at least two essential devices, namely biometrics for finger print records and IRIS eye retinal scanner reportedly imported from the United States.

BEWARE OF HEPATITIS, THE SILENT KILLER by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 29, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia just joined the world in observing  World Hepatitis Day on July 28 launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the World Hepatitis Alliance.

         The first official World Hepatitis Day themed "This is Hepatitis" is observed  to increase people's awareness and understanding about viral hepatitis which kills more than one million people every year.

WILL NTT FISHERMEN FINALLY BE COMPENSATED FOR TIMOR SEA POLLUTION? by Fardah

    Jakarta, July 28, 2011 (ANTARA) - Will it be good news for East Nusa Tenggara fishermen after they have waited for about two years to receive compensation payment for material losses caused by the Montara oil spill in the Timor Sea?
    Well, they have to wait at least until the Indonesian government and PTTEP Australasia, the Thai company operating the Montara oil field, sign a Memorandum of Understanding on compensation for pollution in the Timor Sea.

PRESIDENT ORDERS CAREFUL PREPARATIONS FOR DRAFT STATE BUDGET 2012 by Fardah

      Jakarta, July 27, 2011 (ANTARA) - It has been a tradition that on every August 16 the President delivers a Draft State Budget and its Financial Note to the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Legislative Council (DPD) at the Parliament building, a day prior to the celebration of Indonesia`s Independence Day.
      As the day is less than two weeks away, the government has intensified discussions on the preparations for the Draft Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN) 2012 in cabinet meetings chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

PEOPLE FORCED TO WAIT LONGER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY by Fardah

      Jakarta, July 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesian people - those in the low-income bracket in particular, have  to exercise a still undetermined additional amount of patience  before they can enjoy one of their constitutionally guaranteed basic rights as the government has asked for more time to  pass the Bill on the Social Security Executing Agency (BPJS).

         Every year, more than 150 million people or 44 families face financial problems due to medical costs burdening them, according to the Action Committee of Social Security in (KAJS) at an ASEAN Civil Society Conference in Jakarta last May 2011.

JAKARTA TO TREAT PEARL LOVERS IN OCTOBER FESTIVAL by Fardah

      Jakarta, July 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - Pearl lovers should not miss an Indonesian Pearl Festival 2011 to be organized by the marine affairs and fisheries ministry in cooperation with the Indonesian Pearl Cultivation Association (ASBUMI) in Jakarta next October.
       The festival to be held from October 12 to 16, 2011, will offer among other things the precious and finest south sea pearl (SSP) which is also known as the Queen of Pearls.

DRAGON BOAT RACE DRAWS JUST ONE FOREIGN PARTICIPANT by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 21, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Ninth International Dragon Boat Race kicked off in Padang, West Sumatra, on Thursday (July 21), although only one foreign country is participating in the competition that will run until July 24, 2011.

      The annual race is held to promote tourism in West Sumatra, a province blessed with rich traditional culture and beautiful panorama such as stunning diving spots, canyons, and valleys.

INDONESIA'S BIRDS FACING THREAT OF EXTINCTION by Fardah

          Jakarta, July 20, 2011 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is known as a "bird paradise" as the country has a total of 1,594 bird species including 381 endemic birds species, of the world's total 10,000 bird species.

         The country is the world's fifth richest country in terms of fowl possession, according to Ria Saryanthi, conservation program manager of Burung Indonesia (BirdLife Indonesia), early this year.    

WAKATOBI POISED TO CELEBRATE INT'L SAIL EVENT by Fardah

      Jakarta, July 16, 2011 (ANTARA) - Wakatobi is expected to have a festive atmosphere as 1,000 bikers will tour the district and thousands of local people will offer traditional dances and food during a folk festival to mark the launch of Sail Wakatobi Balitong 2011 on Saturday (July 16).
      "The folk festival that we have prepared for the Sail Wakatobi launch tomorrow evening, will include the traditional `kande-kandea` and `Kabuenga`," Tawakal, the head of the Wakatobi Tourism, Art and Cultural Office, said in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, on Friday (July 15).
      "Kande-kadea" is the Wakatobi people`s tradition to welcome and offer honored guests with various traditional Wakatobi food.
Several ministers such as Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Leksono, Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam, and Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad will be present at the reception.

Beautiful girls and women from eight sub districts and 100 villages in Wakatobi District will offer various local food dishes to the honored guests who can choose the food according to their taste.

"In short, the kande-kandea to be organized to mark the launch of Sail Wakatobi this time will be the merriest ever held by the Wakatobi people in the history of "kande-kandea"," Tawakal said.

The folk festival will also include "Bangka Mbule-mbule" to be participated in by around 10,000 traditional fishing boats, and "Kabuenga" traditional ritual which is organized to help young people find their future husbands or wives.

A tour by 1,000 bikers from Indonesia and abroad is also organized to mark the launch of Sail Wakatobi Belitong.

The 1,000 bikers including Minister Fadel Mohammad, Minister Jero Wacik, Governor Nur Alam and Wakatobi District Head Hugua, will be led by Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono," Tawakal said.

Minister Fadel Muhammad had earlier said at least 40 countries will take part in Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011 in the second week of July.

"So far, 40 states have confirmed their participation but we hope the number will eventually rise to 70," Fadel said recently when seeing off task force members of the Surya Bhaskara Operation, a civic mission organized as part of the Sail Wakatobi-Belitong activities.

The marine affairs and fishery ministry`s director general of marine and fishery sources supervision concurrently the Sail Wakatobi-Belitong organizing committee secretary, Syahrin Abdurrahman, said the Sail 2011 event has six main activities.

The activities are a yacht rally, a civic mission of Bhakti Surya Bhaskara Jaya, national and international seminars on marine and fishery sources management, archipelagic youth marine cross, marine and fishery product exhibitions.

The Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011 will be organized for six weeks, since the second week of July until the fourth week of August in Wakatobi and Belitong District, Bangka Belitung Province, Sumatra.

A number of big ships will participate in the Sail, and one of them will bring along a group of doctors who will give free medical services to Wakatobi residents.

Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono had earlier said that the budget allocated for Sail Wakatobi Belitong was estimated to reach Rp60 billion.

The funds would also be used to improve some infrastructures in Wakatobi and Belitong.

Minister Agung said Sail Wakatobi Belitong was important to promote marine tourism, conduct a civic mission, develop the youth in the framework of the national character building, and to speed up the development in the regions.

Fadel, who has stayed on Wangi-wangi Island, Wakatobi District, since few days ago, has called for acceleration of infrastructure development in the district to support the implementation of Sail Wakatobi Belitong 2011.

"I want the development be accelerated," Minister Fadel said in Wangi-wangi on Friday.

The construction works of main roads, power installation and a plane runway must be completed soon, he stated. "It`s very important. We want the development in Wakatobi to progress," he said.

Having underwater panoramic beauty and breath-taking diving sites, Wakatobi is a biodiversity hotspot especially known for various species of coral reefs.

The district is situated geographically at the world`s coral reef triangle center and has around 942 fish species and 750 coral reef species.

Thanks to its rich marine sources, it has become a location of researches conducted by European and American universities over the past tens of years.

To optimally develop the marine sources, the marine affairs and fisheries ministry plans to set up a world-class School for Marine Conservation (SMC) in Wakatobi.

"We want to build an international standard school in Wakatobi," Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said in Wangi-wanig on Saturday.

The planned school is expected to become a benchmark of similar marine schools in Indonesia, and will have three departments, namely Conservation Management, Biodiversity, and Ocean Engineering.

SMC would be able to accommodate 400 students, around 2,000 training course participants, and have 50 lecturers, the minister said.

Since 1996, Wakatobi has had a conservation area or a national park covering a total area of 1.39 million hectares. The national park has 25 clusters of coral reef, 600-km long coastal line, 112 species of coral reef from 13 families, and 93 species of fish.

Indonesia is one of the world`s largest maritime countries with about 5.8 million square kilometers of marine territory. It is the biggest archipelagic country in the world, with around 70% its territory is waters and it has 17,480 islands.

The government plans to increase the nation`s marine conservation area to 20 million hectares by 2020, from the present 13.5 million hectares. ***4***

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WAKATOBI POISED TO CELEBRATE INT'L SAIL EVENT by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 16, 2011 (ANTARA) - Wakatobi is expected to have a festive atmosphere as 1,000 bikers will tour the district and thousands of local people will offer traditional dances and food during a folk festival to mark the launch of Sail Wakatobi Balitong 2011 on Saturday (July 16).
      "The folk festival that we have prepared for the Sail Wakatobi launch tomorrow evening, will include the traditional `kande-kandea` and `Kabuenga`," Tawakal, the head of the Wakatobi Tourism, Art and Cultural Office, said in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, on Friday (July 15).

MT LOKON ERUPTION FORCES MASS EVACUATION By Fardah

      Jakarta, July 15, 2011 (ANTARA) - A major eruption of Mount Lokon in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, on Thursday evening (July 14) has struck local villagers with panic and forced them to leave their houses immediately, causing an almost 100 percent increase in the number of refugees.
        Some 4,446 people were taking refuge on Friday (July 15) following the latest eruption, a significant increase from 2,510 people a day earlier.

HUNT FOR NAZARUDDIN CONTINUES by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 13, 2011 (ANTARA) - Former Democrat Party treasurer M Nazaruddin,who is wanted as a suspect in a corruption case, has been on the run for more than 50 days so far.
      Nazar left Jakarta for Singapore on May 23, 2011, just a day before the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) imposed a travel ban on him.

TRADITIONAL MARKETS NEAR BORDERS GET GOVT'S ATTENTION by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 11, 2011 (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu recently traveled to border areas in East Nusa Tenggara and Papua Provinces to inspect traditional markets there.
      The visits to the country`s remote borders demonstrated that Minister Pangestu does not only think globally, but also acts locally and cares for the welfare of the people at the grass root level.

HAZE COMES BACK IN SUMATRA AND KALIMANTAN by Fardah

          Jakarta, July 8, 2011 (ANTARA) - Haze has come back  on Sumatra and  Kalimantan Islands over the past few weeks, affecting the environment, the local inhabitants' health and air traffic.
         In fact, in March 2011, Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta had predicted that forest fires might occur in the dry season,  in June or July 2011, especially on Sumatra and Kalimantan Islands which are prone to forest and plantation fires.      

FASHION BOOSTS RI'S CREATIVE INDUSTRY by Fardah

       Jakarta, July 7, 2011 (ANTARA) - Fashion products have dominated Indonesia`s creative industrial exports by contributing around 55 percent of the total value of the country`s creative industrial exports in 2010.

      "Fashion is a sub-sector that contributes the biggest value to the creative industrial exports reaching around US$72 billion in 2010," Trade Minister Marie Elka Pangestu said at the opening of the Indonesia Creative Products Week (PPKI) 2011 here on Wednesday (July 6).