Year-ender: INDONESIA TO HOLD SIMULTANEOUS REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS IN EARLY 2016 By Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) -- Despite complaints regarding alleged irregularities and money politics in some regions, 2014 was a year of democracy for Indonesia with peacefully organized legislative elections in April followed by the presidential election in July.

         The parliamentary elections was the largest and most complicated single-day poll in the world, with more than 185.8 million voters spread across thousands of islands registered to vote in over than 545 thousand polling stations
    Three months later, Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy following India and the United States, held a presidential election, which turned out to be its first ever head-to-head presidential race that showed a countrywide divide.

      With the nation having successfully elected new legislators and its president, another major series of elections is now in the offing---the simultaneous elections of regional heads (pilkada) such as governors, district heads and mayors in more than 300 districts/cities and eight provinces throughout Indonesia.

Round-up: SAR TEAMS BRAVE BAD WEATHER TO SPEED UP SEARCH OPERATIONS By Fardah

    Jakarta, Dec 30, 2014 (Antara) -- Despite bad weather hindering search and rescue (SAR) operations, Indonesian authorities deployed their maritime and air forces to the best of their capabilities on Tuesday to find the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501.

        Their efforts paid off as they finally discovered debris of the airplane, which had 162 people on board and had gone missing on Sunday (December 28).

         Debris of the Singapore-bound aircraft and six bodies were spotted floating in Java Sea near Karimata Strait, which is located between Sumatra and the Kalimantan islands, around 95 nautical miles (Nm) from Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan province.

NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES OFFER HELP IN SEARCH FOR MISSING AIRASIA PLANE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Dec 28, 2014 (Antara) - As the year 2014 nearly ends, the world has been shocked by news reports on an AirAsia plane with 162 people aboard that has gone missing after losing contact with air traffic control on its way from Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city, to Singapore, Sunday morning (Dec. 28).

         Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 lost contact after the pilot asked to climb higher to avoid bad weather over sea area between Bangka Belitung (Sumatra) and West Kalimantan.

         There was bad weather over Belitung at the time and the aircraft had been flying at 32,000 feet before asking to fly at 38,000 feet to avoid clouds.

         The aircraft, an Airbus 320-200 carrying 155 passengers and seven crew, took off from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 5:36 a.m. local time, and lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 6:17 a.m. The plane was scheduled to arrive in Singapore at 08:30 a.m. local time.  

Year-ender - TEN YEARS AFTER TSUNAMI, ACEH BUILDS BACK BETTER

  By Fardah
   Jakarta, Dec 26, 2014 (Antara) - Even after ten years since the deadly tsunami claimed over 200 thousand lives, its memories haunted survivors and yet they held fast and rebuilt their homes and carried on bravely.

          "Many things have changed, including the enthusiasm of the people, government facilities, and even buildings. The most noteworthy is that the public is in high spirits," Vice-President M Jusuf Kalla said in Banda Aceh, Aceh Darussalam Province, on Dec. 25, a day before the 10th commemoration of the tsunami tragedy and remembrance of its victims.   
      Kalla led the function held in Banda Aceh, on Friday (Dec. 26), to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the powerful tsunami that ravaged Aceh and Nias Island, North Sumatra, on Dec. 26, 2004.

Year-ender: ACEH GEARS UP FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEADLY TSUNAMI by Fardah

    Jakarta, Dec 18, 2014 (Antara) - Although a decade has passed by, but Ricky Muzakir's near-death experience of almost being swallowed by the gigantic tsunami that struck Aceh on December 26, 2004, still remains fresh in his memory.

        "As I was at the bottom of the dirty water, I prayed to God. Please help me God, do not let me die this way. And suddenly, my body rose to the surface," Muzakir, a businessman from Aceh, recently told Antara while recounting his experience as one of the survivors of Aceh's deadly tsunami.

PAPUA EAGER TO HOST SAIL CENDERAWASIH BAY IN 2018 by Fardah

   Jakarta, Dec 17, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia has endless maritime beautiful scenery extending from Sabang in its western-most province of Aceh Darussalam to Merauke located in the eastern-most province of Papua, to offer to foreign as well as domestic tourists.

        Being one of the world`s largest maritime countries with about 5.8 million square kilometres of marine territory, Indonesia has some 92,000 km-long beach and coastal areas, the world's second largest after Canada.

        The country is the biggest archipelagic state in the world, with around 70 percent of its territory as water and it has 17,480 islands.      

Year-ender: INDONESIA INTENSIFIES FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING By Fardah

   Jakarta, Dec 17, 2014  (Antara) -- President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who vowed to revive the past maritime glory of Indonesia during his tenure as the head of state, is determined to eliminate illegal foreign fishing boats from Indonesian waters.            
   According to data, Indonesia suffered annual losses of some Rp300 trillion (US$24.27 billion) due to illegal fishing activities. Some 5.4 thousand fishing vessels reportedly operate illegally in Indonesian waters because the government did not take firm action against them.

         "We must stop them. We must chase them out as soon as they enter Indonesian waters. Sink them," Jokowi ordered recently.

13 pelukis perempuan Filipina pameran di Jakarta

oleh Fardah

Rabu, 10 Desember 2014 19:24 WIB | 2.404 Views

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sebanyak 13 perempuan Filipina yang tinggal di Indonesia menggelar pameran lukisan bertajuk "The 10th Anniversary Exhibition: The Filipino Women for Art" di Duta Fine Arts Gallery, Kemang Utara, Jakarta Selatan, 9-16 Desember 2014.

"Tujuh lukisan saya ikut dipamerkan. Saya sudah menghasilkan lebih dari 150 lukisan," Noreen M. Flores, salah satu peserta pameran dan pendiri perkumpulan "Filipino Women for Art", mengatakan di Jakarta, Rabu.

Pameran itu memajang 50 lukisan karya Maria Lucia Sibuyo, Joy de Leon, Analyn Fumar, Maria Roselita Fernandez, Cean de Vries, Irish Carcia, Karina De Leon, Tess Pantoja, Tenette Peralta Racho, Joycelyn Armedi Enerio, Noreen M. Flores, Nonthe Ticoalu, dan Connie Nartates.

Painting Exhibition Organized By 13 Filipino Women in Jakarta

by Fardah

Jakarta (Antara) - Thirteen Filipino women residing in Indonesia are holding a painting exhibition titled, "The 10th Anniversary Exhibition: The Filipino Women for Art" at the Duta Fine Arts Gallery, Kemang Utara, South Jakarta, on December 9-16, 2014.

"Seven paintings of mine are on display. I have created over 150 paintings so far," Noreen M. Flores, one of the female painters and the founder of the Filipino Women for Art, stated here on Tuesday.

The exhibition displays some 50 paintings by Maria Lucia Sibuyo, Joy de Leon, Analyn Fumar, Maria Roselita Fernandez, Cean de Vries, Irish Carcia, Karina De Leon, Tess Pantoja, Tenette Peralta Racho, Joycelyn Armedi Enerio, Noreen M. Flores, Nonthe Ticoalu, and Connie Nartates.

JUSTICE MINISTER EXPECTED TO BE FAIR IN GOLKAR CASE By Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 9, 2014 (Antara) - As the Golkar Party's two rival camps seek legitimacy from the government, experts have cautioned Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly not to repeat his past "mistake" involving the United Development Party (PPP).

         The PPP had split into two camps following two separate leadership congresses in October 2014. Two chairmen were elected: Djan Faridz at the Jakarta Congress and Romahurmuziy at the Surabaya Congress.

         While one of the camps took the dispute to the State Administrative Court (PTUN), Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly went ahead and issued a decree recognizing Rohmahurmuziy's PPP.

WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS WITH INFANTS MIGHT HAVE LESSER WORKING HOURS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Dec 8, 2014 (Antara) - The government is planning to reduce the working hours of women civil servants with infants to give them more time to tend to family matters.
    Currently, every Indonesian civil servant has to work eight hours a day, but if the government's plan is implemented, then female workers having infants will have to work only six hours a day.
   The reduction of working hours will only be applicable to female civil servants having children below six years of age.
   "Thus, this is not applicable to all (female civil servants)," Minister for State Apparatuses and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi recently stated.

JOKOWI'S POLICY TO SINK BOATS LAUDED AT HOME by Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 5, 2014 (Antara) - Several sections, including fishermen, legislators, and politicians have lauded President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's directive to sink foreign vessels caught fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.

         "We support Minister Susi's measures to sink boats that poach in Indonesian waters. We once burned a boat that was found fishing illegally by using a trawl, but that destroyed coral reefs and killed small fish," Rustam, a fisherman in Bengkulu, Sumatra, said on Nov. 25, 2014.

        The idea of sinking illegal foreign fishing boats was first raised by Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti. She later won the support of President Jokowi and several legislators.

TREE PLANTING MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY PROGRAM by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 30, 2014 (Antara) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo attended a national commemoration of Indonesian Tree Planting Day (HMPI) 2014 and National Tree Planting Month (BMN) held in Tempursari village, Wonogiri District, Central Java, on Nov 29.

         Some 37,000 tree seedlings were planted, including a teakwood tree by Jokowi and Magnolia × alba, also known as the White Champaca, by First Lady Iriana Widodo, at the venue of the commemoration ceremony.

         "Preserved Forests to Support Food Sovereignty, Water and Renewable Energy" was the theme of this year's HMPI and BMN activities, according to Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya.

INDONESIA REITERATES UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO PALESTINE by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 29, 2014 (Antara) --  The Indonesian government organized an international seminar themed "Unwavering Support of Indonesia to Palestine and the Role of the United Nations" at the office of the foreign ministry on November 28.  
   The event, which included a photo exhibition dubbed "Our Hearts, Our Minds and Our Hands," was held to observe the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People that falls on November 29.

        "Indonesia has, and will always, stand by Palestinian people in their fight for their right to build an independent and sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital city," Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi said in her opening remarks.  

INDONESIAN, FILIPINO BUSINESSMEN ENCOURAGED TO "RE-DISCOVER" ENDURING TIES by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 29, 2014 (Antara) - Sixty five years ago, the Philippines opened a consulate in Jakarta, and soon Indonesia followed the move by establishing a consulate in Manila,  to mark the official diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries.

         "For 65 years, our two countries have never gone through any serious misunderstanding. This says much about the friendly neighborliness that we have sustained since the start of our official ties in 1949," Roberto G Manalo, Charge d'Affaires of the Philippines Embassy in Jakarta said in his opening remarks in Investment Conference 2014 themed "The Philippines and Indonesia at 65:Partners in Growth" organized by the embassy on Nov. 27, 2014.

          Indonesia and the Philippines are perfect to be partners in business, but in reality it has not been the case, as the statistic shows that bilateral trade and investment value is very low, according to him.

65 TAHUN HUBUNGAN INDONESIA-FILIPINA MITRA DALAM PERTUMBUHAN Oleh Fardah

    Jakarta, 28/11/2014 (Antara) - Pada 24 November 1949, 65 tahun yang lalu, Filipina membuka kantor konsulatnya di Jalan Imam Bonjol, Jakarta, yang menandai terjalinnya hubungan diplomasi resmi kedua negara dan tak lama kemudian Indonesia pun membuka konsulat di Manila.

         Kedua bangsa memiliki sejumlah kesamaan secara historis, etnis, budaya, geografis dan ekonomi yang merupakan aset yang dapat dikembangkan bagi kesejahteraan rakyat masing-masing negara.

         "Filipina selalu menghargai hubungan bilateral dengan Indonesia. Selama 65 tahun menjalin hubungan diplomatik, tidak pernah terjadi kesalahpahaman yang serius antara Indonesia dan Filipina," kata  Kuasa Usaha Filipina di Jakarta, Roberto C. Manalo pada acara "Konperensi Investasi 2014 antara Filipina dan Indonesia @65: Mitra dalam Pertumbuhan" yang diselenggarakan di Jakarta, 27 November 2014.

JOKOWI FINALLY ALLOWS MINISTERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS WITH PARLIAMENT by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 26,2014 (Antara) - The House of Representatives (DPR) was recently "shocked" by Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto's letter containing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's instruction to ministers and other high ranking officials to skip all meetings with lawmakers before the Parliament resolves its internal problems.

         In the letter No.SE-12/Seskab/XII/2014 and dated Nov. 4, 2014,  all ministers,  the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, the head of the National Police, the TNI chiefs of staff, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the attorney general, were asked to abstain from responding to any invitation by the DPR to have a hearing or working meeting with them.

GOVT TRIES TO MITIGATE IMPACTS OF FUEL PRICE HIKE ON POOR by Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 26, 2014 (Antara) -- The administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has been trying to convince the public that the recent move to hike the prices of fuels by Rp2,000 per liter will eventually help improve their welfare.

         When announcing the price hike on November 17, the president stated that the large amount of funds that were allocated for fuel oil subsidy could be diverted to aid farmers by providing them with irrigation facilities, seeds, and fertilizers, or to help fishermen by providing them with fishing boats, machines, and cold storage units.

         He believed that diverting the subsidies to those productive sectors was necessary for the welfare of all people, the poor and the rich alike.      

INDONESIA BETTER PREPARED FOR TSUNAMIS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 25, 2014 (Antara) - For most Indonesians, the memories of the deadly tsunami, which devastated Aceh Darussalam Province and Nias Ditrict (North Sumatra Province) just one day after Christmas about ten years ago, are still fresh in their minds.

         The tsunami, which was triggered by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake that rocked Aceh on Dec. 26, 2004, has been the most devastating one in living memory. It affected 18 countries in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, killed more than 250 thousand people in a single day, and left more than 1.7 million people homeless.

         In Aceh and Nias alone, the tsunami caused wide-scale destruction, killed more than 200 thousand people and rendered some one million people homeless.

SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN STILL RAMPANT IN INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - Nearly 25 years ago, a global promise was made to uphold and protect the rights of children at all costs to ensure their all-round growth and well-being, so that they achieve their maximum potential.

        The pledge was marked with the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) by the UN General Assembly on 20 November, 1989.   
   The Children's Rights Convention stipulates four general principles: non-discrimination, the child's best interests, their right to life, survival, and development, and respect for their views.

INDONESIA HOSPITAL IN GAZA AWAITS MEDICAL SUPPLIES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 22, 2014 (Antara) -- The construction of the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, Palestine, has been completed, but the supply of medical equipment and facilities is being hampered by traffic restrictions on people and goods in areas bordering Gaza and Egypt.

         "The physical construction of the hospital is completed, but it has yet to be stocked with medical equipment," Dr. Sarbini Abdul Murad, a member of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) Indonesia presidium, said.

         The Indonesia Hospital, first initiated in 2009, has been built in Bayt Lahiya, North Gaza, with funding from the Indonesian public. It is expected to be opened in February 2015.

SUMATRA, JAVA HIT BY FLOODS IN EARLY RAINY SEASON by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 21, 2014 (Antara) - As Indonesia begins to experience heavy rains, several provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, West Sumatra, North Sumatra, Riau, and Bengkulu on the Sumatra Islands, and Jakarta and West Java on Java Island, have reported floods.

         In Aceh, thousands of villagers in Menggamat, South Aceh District, have been isolated since Nov. 19, 2014, as a landslide buried a seven-kilometer-long road there.

FLOODS HIT JAKARTA AS RAINY SEASON JUST STARTS By Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 20, 2014 (Antara)-  The rainy season has just started in Jakarta, but parts of the capital city were already flooded, and  some 17,837 inhabitants of East Jakarta and South Jakarta were displaced due to the flooding.

         Kampung Pulo, which is densely populated area located along Ciliwung River's bank in East Jakarta, was the worst hit by flood waters that reached a height of up to four meters on early Nov. 20, 2014.

         Floods forced 17,569 residents of Kampung Pulo, Bidara China, and Cawang in East Jakarta to seek temporary shelters, Chandra Gunawan of the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) said.

INTERIOR MINISTER HALTS IMPLEMENTATION OF E-ID CARD PROJECT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 19, 2014 (Antara) - Since the beginning, the implementation of electronic-Identification (ID) card project has faced many problems such as late arrival of data recording equipment and corruption allegations.

        The launch of the e-ID card or locally known e-KTP project in several cities simultaneously had been delayed by the home affairs ministry due to various obstacles.

        The launch had initially been scheduled for August 1, 2011. But, later it was carried out in early 2012.

        The ministry had allocated Rp6.3 trillion ($642 million) from the state budget for the introduction of e-KTP nationwide, with the target of providing at least 170 million people with e-KTP by late 2012.

        Indonesia`s total population is around 257 million, but only those above 17 years old are eligible for e-KTP.

"SAVE AL AQSA" RALLIES STAGED IN JAKARTA, MATARAM, BATAM by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 17, 2014 (Antara) - At least three rallies protesting against Israeli violations and violence at Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem were staged in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta, Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara) and Batam (Riau Islands) on November 16.

        Indonesian Muslims are very concerned about the situation related to Al Aqsa Mosque, with radical Jewish settlers, under the protection of heavily-armed Israeli officers, often breaking into the premises.

        The Jewish extremists caused damages inside Al Aqsa, and Israeli security officers blocked all Muslims from praying in the ancient mosque, which is Islam's third-most sacred place of worship after Masjidil Haram in Mecca and Nabawi Mosque in Medina.

        Al Aqsa is also the second mosque to ever be built on earth and the first qibla (the direction they face while praying) of Muslims.

JOKOWI'S MARITIME AXIS VISION ATTRACTS SOME NATIONS by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 16, 2014 (Antara) - A number of nations have expressed their interest in establishing cooperation in maritime-related activities with the Indonesian government since President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo revealed his maritime axis vision a month ago.

    Among the attracted nations are the United States, Japan, China, Australia, the Netherlands, and France.

    Jokowi received more maritime cooperation offers from the major nations when he attended the APEC Forum in Beijing, China, on Nov. 10-11; the 25th ASEAN Summit and the Ninth East Asian Summit (EAS) in Myanmar on Nov. 12-13; and the G20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, on Nov. 15-16, 2014.

    During his debut at those summits, Jokowi showed case his vision of transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis before several world leaders.

JAKARTA CLAIMS TO BE BETTER PREPARED TO TACKLE FLOODS by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 15, 2014 (Antara) -- Jakarta is notorious for its traffic jams and floods during the rainy season, which usually begins late in the year and lasts until February or March.

          In January 2014 alone, when the season reached its peak, floods claimed 23 lives, displaced tens of thousands of people and inflicted losses amounting to some one trillion rupiah in Jakarta.

         Last year, Jakarta suffered material losses worth Rp20 trillion, or US$2 billion, as a result of floods

AHOK'S LONG AND WINDING ROAD TOWARD GUBERNATORIAL SEAT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 15, 2014 (Antara) - The inauguration of Jakarta governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as Indonesia's seventh president on October 20, 2014 does not automatically pave the way for his deputy, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, alias Ahok, to assume Jakarta's top executive job.

         Jokowi, former mayor of Solo, and Ahok, former district head of East Belitung, were sworn in, respectively, as Jakarta's governor and deputy governor on October 5, 2012.

         Two years later, on Oct. 6, 2014, Jokowi resigned from his gubernatorial seat, after he won the presidential election in 2014.

         But, Ahok's ascension was not automatic, as Jakarta's legislators from the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) and the Red and White Coalition (KMP) have differing interpretations about the laws on the governorship.

JOKOWI SHOWCASES HIS MARITIME AXIS VISION ON WORLD STAGE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Nov 14, 2014 (Antara) - New Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, during his debut at the APEC Summit and the East Asian Summit (EAS), highlighted his vision of transforming Indonesia into a global maritime axis before several world leaders.
    "Indonesia, a maritime nation, wants to become a global maritime axis, which can bring prosperity to its people," he affirmed during the plenary session of the 9th EAS held to coincide with the ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on Nov. 13, 2014.

        As a nation located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indonesia must affirm itself as the world's maritime axis, he stated. 

INDONESIA SHOULD APPEAL TO UN OVER ISRAELI AGGRESSION AGAINST AQSA by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 13, 2014 (Antara) - Israeli police clashed with Palestinians last week at the entrance to al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third most sacred place, after what Palestinians termed an "illegal storming of the mosque" by Israeli extremists who were protected by some 300 Israeli security forces, Today's Zaman reported.        The incident is just one in a series of actions, incidents of violence and violations committed by Israeli forces and Jewish lunatics towards the compound of Al Aqsa, the second mosque built on Earth and the first Qibla (direction for prayers) of Muslims.         The violence and violations have elicited condemnations from leaders of Muslim majority countries such as Jordan and Turkey, as well as the Indonesian public.

MARITIME MINISTRY, NAVY TO JOINTLY FIGHT ILLEGAL FISHING by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 8, 2014 (Antara) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti recently voiced her concerns about Indonesia being the only country in the world to allow access to foreign boats to fish in its waters.

         "Only in our country can foreign boats fish," she stated in Jakarta, on Nov. 8, 2014.

          She cited the example of Australia, which has issued a policy to close access to 70 percent of its coral barrier reef area since 2009.

         The minister was of the viewpoint that implementing such a policy was necessary to preserve the nation's fish stocks.

SAIL TOMINI TO PROMOTE CENTRAL SULAWESI AS INTERNATIONAL TOURIST DESTINATION By Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 9, 2014 (Antara) - Next year will be the turn of Central Sulawesi province to be promoted as an international tourist destination through the maritime event, Sail Tomini 2015.

         The exact date of the Sail Tomini 2015 event has yet to be decided, but it will be held in the Parigi Moutong district of Central Sulawesi---a heterogeneous region where local tribes such as Tomini, Tinombo, and Moutong live together with migrants from other islands, including Bali.

INDONESIA AIMS TO BECOME WORLD'S LARGEST COCOA PRODUCER by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 7, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia, currently the world's third-largest cocoa producer after Ivory Coast and Ghana, is leaving no stone unturned to become the global leader in cocoa production in the next three years.

        This ambition was recently revealed during the visit of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to Sulawesi, which is one of the country's major cocoa producers. 
    Jokowi urged the cocoa farmers to work harder, so that the country could surpass Ivory Coast and Ghana, the two African countries that have been the world's first- and second-largest cocoa producers.

         Africa accounts for 70 percent of the global cocoa production, with Indonesia being the largest producer outside Africa.

INDONESIA STRONGLY CONDEMNS ISRAELI VIOLENCE IN AL AQSA MOSQUE by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 6, 2014 (Antara) - Ongoing violations and violence by Israeli Zionist Jews in the Al Aqsa compound have been condemned by the Indonesian government.

         The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement following a total closure of Al Aqsa Mosque by Israel recently, said that Israel must allow access to the mosque and guarantee the safety of Muslims carrying out their prayers in the Al-Aqsa mosque.

         The government has called the Israeli move a violation against human rights, and particularly the religious freedom of all Muslims in Jerusalem, Palestine.

NEW MARITIME AFFAIRS MINISTER DECLARES WAR AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING by Fardah

  Jakarta, Oct 31, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, has abundant marine resources with economic prospects touching Rp3,000 trillion (US$257 billion) per year.

         But, Indonesian waters (almost 70 percent of its national territory) are exposed to illegal fishing activities by foreign poachers. Between 2001 and 2003, 6,215 cases related to illegal fishing had been recorded.

          Poaching in Indonesian waters has been on the rise due to poor supervision and legal enforcement to curb illegal fishing by foreign fishermen and boats.

News Focus - AT 50, GOLKAR DETERMINED TO ACT AS CHECK AND BALANCING FORCE by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 30, 2014  (Antara) - For the first time in its 50-year-long history, the Golkar Party has decided to remain away from executive power that it always held and instead act as a check and balance force in the House of Representatives (DPR).

         Addressing a gathering to mark the Golkar's Golden Jubilee on Oct. 28, 2014, its chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, said that a healthy democracy demanded a system of checks and balances, and Golkar (Working Group), as a loyal, honest and best friend of the executive, is ready to ensure that the country has a dynamic and accountable parliament.

INDONESIA'S FIRST WOMAN FOREIGN MINISTER PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT JOKOWI'S VISION by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 28, 2014 (Antara) -- The new Indonesian president, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, opened a new page in the nation's history by appointing career diplomat Retno LP Marsudi as the country's first ever female foreign affairs minister.

         "She (Retno Marsudi) is a career diplomat. Hard working, firm and a visionary, she is the first woman foreign minister in our history," President Jokowi said while introducing members of his Working Cabinet for the 2014-2019 period in Jakarta on Sunday (October 26).

         Marsudi, who succeeded former foreign affairs minister Marty Natalegawa, expressed her readiness to work in line with the vision of Jokowi, who told his ministers in the first cabinet meeting earlier that one of their tasks was to implement his vision.

JOKOWI'S PLEDGE TO REVIVE INDONESIA'S MARITIME SUPREMACY LAUDED by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 25, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia's new President, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, is expected to announce his cabinet that will include a minister to coordinate maritime affairs, a new portfolio to revive the glorious maritime past of the nation.

            Jokowi, throughout his election campaign, had spoken about reviving the country's past of finding riches at the sea and termed it as one of his ambitions.  
       During the times of the Sriwijaya Kingdom between the seventh and 13th century and centered in western Indonesia, the Kingdom was believed to have enjoyed maritime supremacy within the Southeast Asian region.

INDONESIA NEEDS A SOLID SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 22, 2014 (Antara) -- General elections in Indonesia this year have led to an entirely new political scenario in the country.

         This year, we have a PDIP-led executive power and an opposition-dominated legislature, while usually the political party that emerges victorious in the elections dominates both the executive and legislative segments.

         The executive power is headed by entrepreneur-turned politician Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who was supported by the Great Indonesia coalition (KIH). Led by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the coalition also comprises the National Awakening Party (PKB), the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party.

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION REFLECTS INDONESIA'S IMAGE by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 20, 2014 (Antara) - October 20, 2014 is the day that has been waiting for by millions of Indonesians to witness the inauguration of its seventh president, entrepreneur-turned-politician Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

          A cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Jokowi, 53, was mayor of Central Java's town of Solo, from 2005 to 2012. He won the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2012. And after two years as Jakarta's governor, in July 2014 he decided to run for presidency.

          Jokowi is the second president elected in direct presidential election. He and his running mate M Jusuf Kalla won 53.15 percent of the total votes in the presidential election held on July 9, 2014, while their rivals, Prabowo Subianto and his partner Hatta Rajasa secured 46.85 percent.

INDONESIA MOVES TOWARDS MATURE DEMOCRACY by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 18, 2014 (Antara) - After all the noise and tension during the general election held earlier this year, the entire nation has come out as the winner, for the country is going to have a new President and opposition-dominated Parliament.

         Further, these opposing groups have pledged to work together for the public's welfare.

         No one was a "loser" in the general elections, as Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the political parties supporting him, The Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH),  are going to hold the executive power,  while his political rival, Prabowo Subianto and his supporters - The Red and White Coalition (KMP) - have dominated leadership in the Parliament, or the House of Representatives (DPR), as well as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

INDONESIA HOPES FOR INCREASE IN QUOTA FOR HAJJ PILGRIMS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 16, 2014 (Antara) -- A Muslim in Indonesia has to wait for up to 20 years for his turn to go to Mecca for Hajj due to the limited quota allotted to pilgrims from the country by Saudi Arabia.

         This is despite the fact that Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population of some 245 million.

         Earlier, when the ratio set by the Saudi government stood at one person per one thousand Muslims, Indonesia's quota for Hajj pilgrims was 211 thousand people, which was the largest among all countries.

         However, the quota was reduced to 168.8 thousand people in 2013 due to the expansion works being undertaken at Masjidil Haram in Mecca.

INDONESIA GEARS UP FOR INAUGURATION OF SEVENTH PRESIDENT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 15, 2014  (Antara) - The newly elected speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Zulkifli Hasan has been busy visiting the country's leaders to extend invitations for the inauguration ceremony of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as the seventh president.

        The inauguration ceremony is scheduled to be held at the parliament/MPR building, on October 20, 2014, and will be attended by outgoing president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former presidents, and the leaders of all political parties, among several others.

FIGHTS AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS INTENSIFIED TO SAVE YOUTHS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 13, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia has to intensify fight against illicit drugs in order to save the nation's younger generation, who are prone to drug addiction traps.

         The National Anti-Narcotic Agency (BNN) recently revealed that of some 4.5 million drug addicts in Indonesia, around 75 percent is the younger generation, particularly students.

         "Most of drug addicts are students and other members of the  younger generation. They constitute 75 percent of the total number of drug addicts, which is 4.5 million people throughout Indonesia,"   AKBP Maria Sorlury of BNN said recently.

         She predicted that the number of drug addicts could increase to five million in 2015. At present, some 50 to 70 drug addicts died daily.

REDD+ EXPECTED TO PRESERVE FORESTS, EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 11, 2014 (Antara) -- To address the challenge of climate change, Indonesia has been implementing the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) program, with the cooperation of foreign donors, particularly Norway, for the last nine years.          
    REDD is an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation---estimated at up to 20 percent of the global total---by offering incentives. REDD+ is an extension of the program that includes the conservation and sustainable management of forests, as well as the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.

         The implementation of the REDD+ program is crucial to help realize President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's commitment towards cutting down gas emissions, which was first announced at the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, United States, in September 2009.

YUDHOYONO SET TO SHARE DEMOCRATIC LESSONS IN BALI DEMOCRACY FORUM by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 9, 2014 (Antara) - The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) VII taking place in Nusa Dua, October 10-11, 2014, will be the final one to be chaired by its initiator, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will end his tenure on October 20, 2014.

         Yudhoyono, former army general, is Indonesia's first-ever president directly elected in democratic elections in September 2004. In 2009, he won re-election in the first round also by some 60 percent of the total vote.

          In 2008, he initiated the first Bali Democracy Forum as an annual, inclusive and open intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia Pacific region.

NEW MPR SPEAKER VOWS TO PRIORITIZE NATIONAL INTERESTS ABOVE ALL by Fardah

 Jakarta, Oct 9, 2014 (Antara) - After a lengthy and exhaustive deliberation, 678 members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), one of Indonesia's highest institutions, have finally elected a speaker and four deputy speakers of MPR democratically.

          Zulkifli Hasan, the current forestry minister and politician from the National Mandate Party (PAN), was elected as the new MPR speaker following voting during a plenary meeting that lasted for almost 20 hours.

          The four new deputy speakers are Mahyuddin of the Golkar Party, E.E. Mangindaan of the Democratic Party (PD), Hidayat Nur Wahid of the  Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and Oesman Sapta Odang of the Regional Representative Council (DPD).  

BLUE ECONOMY CONCEPT BALANCES ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 8, 2014 (Antara) - Being the world's largest archipelago with over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is a maritime nation with a total population of around 250 million.

        The ocean and coastal areas have always been crucial sources of livelihood for millions of citizens and played significant roles in addressing climate change and preserving marine biodiversity.

        Given such crucial roles of oceans and coastal areas, the nation is forced to be able to balance economic growth and environmental preservation in managing maritime and coastal areas.

ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs, BUSINESSMEN CRITICIZE NEW PEATLAND REGULATION by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 6, 2014 (Antara) -- It is crucial that peatlands in Indonesia are protected as they cover some 22 million hectares of land in the country, equivalent to five percent of the global peatland cover.            
    Peat is partially decayed vegetation that accumulates over thousands of years, growing at a rate of about one millimeter per year. Peatlands, which cover about three percent of the planet, are a major depository of carbon as the areas store one-third of the world's soil carbon.    
    According to www.norway.or.id, peatlands in Indonesia store 132 gigatons of carbon dioxide, which is a considerable amount when compared to the 168 gigatons of carbon dioxide stored by the world's largest rainforest, the Amazon.

INDONESIA STRIVES TO BECOME ROLE MODEL OF NUCLEAR SECURITY CULTURE by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 6, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia has always believed in the peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and has been strongly committed to pursuing nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

          As a country with a huge population of some 250 million, the Indonesian government has utilized nuclear science and technology to breed food crops and hopes to have a nuclear power plant (PLTN) to produce energy.

         Indonesia expects to have an operational nuclear power plant by 2030, noted Secretary General of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) M. Teguh Pamuji.

RAFFLESIA, AMORPHOPHALLUS FLOWERS TO BE PROMOTED AS BOTANICAL TREASURES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 4, 2014 (Antara) - Bengkulu, which is dubbed "The Land of Rafflesia", is set to host an international symposium on Rafflesia and Amorphophallus flowers, the world's rarest and largest flowers, in September 2015.

        "Bengkulu has been chosen as the host city because the Bengkulu forest is home to Rafflesia and Amorphophallus flowers," researcher of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Sofi Mursidawati said in Bengkulu on Oct 3, 2014.

         The symposium, to be organized jointly by LIPI and the Bengkulu administration, was originally planned to focus on Rafflesia, but later the organizing committee decided to also include Amorphophallus,  because much of the public cannot distinguish between Rafflesia and Amorphophallus flowers.

HAZE FROM WILDFIRES AFFECTS RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF KALIMANTAN'S RESIDENTS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 4, 2014 (Antara) -- At least six provinces on the Sumatra and Kalimantan islands have been hit by forest, plantation and peatland fires, producing haze that has affected the respiratory health of local residents.

         For instance, people in South Kalimantan complained about the strong odor of the haze that impairs their breathing and vision.

         "When we wake up in the morning, we can smell the smoke inside our house. A thin haze enters the house when we open our doors and windows," Wita, a housewife in Banjarbaru, said on Thursday (Oct 2).

         She added that the smoky haze was taking a toll on the health of the public in Banjarbaru, and had also reduced visibility to just 50 or 100 meters.

BATIK EXPO, FASHION SHOW HIGHLIGHTS OF BATIK DAY by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 2, 2014 (Antara) - Many Indonesians proudly wore clothes made of Batik on October 2, designated as National Batik Day in the country since 2009.

        The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO's) included batik in its list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" items in 2009.   
    Indonesia's Batik along with the Tango of Argentina and Uruguay, the traditional Ainu dance of Japan, and France's Aubusson tapestries, were among the 76 elements included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on September 30, 2009.

INDONESIA TO JOIN GLOBAL EFFORTS TO QUELL EBOLA CRISIS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 30, 2014 (Antara) - Although no Ebola case has been reported in Indonesia so far, the country has been cautious and has adopted all the necessary measures to prevent the infection from spreading in the country.

         Preventive measures are crucial as some 200 thousand Indonesians Muslims are visiting Saudi Arabia for Hajj pilgrimage, which is also observed by millions of Muslims from across the world, including from Africa, which is being hit by the Ebola outbreak.

        Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani, during his meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Bali, in August 2014, requested Indonesia to hold a meeting of the OIC member countries' health ministers to discuss the ongoing Ebola crisis. Indonesia is currently the chair of the OIC Health Ministers High Level Meeting.

GOVT VOWS FOR RETURN OF DIRECT REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 30, 2014 (Antara) - Some parties have challenged a decision of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) to endorse  a bill on indirect regional head elections, taken in a voting.
         After a long debate and voting, the DPR passed a bill on regional head elections which stipulates that regional heads - governors, mayors and district heads, are elected by the Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD), or indirect elections, in contrast to direct elections by the public that had been held over the past decade.
         "The result of voting showed that 135 DPR members voted for direct regional head election and 361 voted against it," Deputy Chairman of the DPR Priyo Budi Santoso who chaired the prolonged plenary session, said at the wee hours on September 26, 2014.

INDONESIA, PORTUGAL VOW TO BOOST ECONOMIC TIES, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONTACT by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 29, 2014 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made a historical visit to Portugal on September 18-20, 2014, less than a month before he ends his term in office after leading Indonesia for a decade.

        "Both countries have established new ties and found the spirit to further strengthen their cooperation," President Yudhoyono said in Lisbon.

        He observed that the bilateral ties between Indonesia and Portugal are "growing stronger," particularly after Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva's Indonesian tour in 2012.

         President Silva praised Indonesia for holding an important position among the global communities.

YUDHOYONO ADMINISTRATION TURNS INDONESIA INTO ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS COUNTRY by Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 27, 2014 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was once described as a "different kind of leader" by the President of the World Resource Institute (WRI), Andrew Steer.

         Steer had spent eight years in Indonesia and seen firsthand how the country had approached its economic and environmental challenges.

         "We live in perilous times," Steer said. "We need innovative and out-of-the-box thinking. Today, we have a leader who is an out-of-the-box thinker."
    Steer had made the statement while presenting Yudhoyono with the first-ever "Valuing Nature Award" in New York in September 2012.

LEADING INT'L POSITIONS WAITING FOR YUDHOYONO by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 27, 2014 (Antara) - Last year, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was considering opening a fried rice restaurant or becoming a chili farmer after his presidential tenure ends in October 2014.

       "I and Madame Ani, my beloved wife, often discuss this matter," he told the Indonesian press in Budapest on March 7, 2013.

        "I even thought of opening a fried rice restaurant. Suddenly, two weeks later, I had an idea to plant chili, instead," he said when visiting Hungary.

        And now, with less than one month before he will end his second term after leading the country for a decade, he has been offered leading positions at important international bodies, including the United Nations.

        "It is true that the UN offered President Yudhoyono a position, as the end of his term nears, in recognition of his performance during his time in office," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said recently.

INDONESIA STRIVES TO PRESERVE LOCAL LANGUAGES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 25, 2014 (Antara) - Having a population of 253 million, more than 1000 ethnic and sub ethnic groups, Indonesia is linguistically a very diverse country, with a single national language - Bahasa Indonesia, and some 746 local languages.

         According to the the National Language Center at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia has more than 746 ethnic languages across the country.

         The ethnic languages in Indonesia belong to both the Austronesian or Malay language families, and non-Austronesian or Trans New Guinean language families.

LEGAL ENFORCEMENT, PREVENTIVE MEASURES NECESSARY TO TACKLE FOREST FIRE PROBLEM by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 25 (Antara) - Indonesia faces a perennial annual problem of forest and plantation fires, and this year, they started as early as February in comparison to the previous years when they usually occurred in the June-October dry season.

        Wild fires have been viewed as humanitarian and environmental disasters since they destroy the flora and fauna, while the haze emanating from them paralyzes transportation, affects businesses, prevents children from attending schools, hinders education, and takes a toll on the public health at large.

         Recently, some 1,236 hotspots of forest and plantation fires were detected in the six provinces of South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Sumatra, Riau, and Jambi, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho informed the press on Sept. 19, 2014.

TEAM EXPECTED TO BE FAIR TO BOTH PRO-INDONESIA, TIMOR LESTE FIGHTERS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 18, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia and its neighbor, Timor Leste, the world's smallest nation, have committed to overcoming the past and to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields, particularly the development sector.  
    "Both governments are strongly committed and eager to overcome issues from the past and build a better future," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said when visiting Dili, Timor Leste's capital, in August 2014.

          A key to maintaining good ties is mutual respect, according to President Yudhoyono, who had twice visited Timor Leste during his administration. The first visit was in May 2002.  

INDONESIA LOOKING FOR BEST OPTIONS FOR REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 18, 2014 (Antara) - A controversy over a Bill being discussed in Parliament suggesting indirect elections of governors, district heads and mayors, is raging in Indonesia.

        The country has been conducting direct elections of president, legislators, and regional heads since 2004. During 1999-2004, the nation carried out indirect elections of regional heads through the Regional Legislative Elections (DPRD).

        Members of the country's political parties are at present divided between those who support reverting to the old system of indirect elections by DPRD and those who want to maintain direct regional head elections (Pilkada).

INDONESIA URGED TO PROTECT YOUNGER GENERATION FROM ILL-EFFECTS OF TOBACCO by Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 15, 2014 (Antara) - Some 73,956,480 people died of tobacco-related diseases since the first Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) working group was formed on October 28, 1999, according to the Death Clock, which keeps track of tobacco-related deaths.

        The first meeting of the working group on the future World Health Organization (WHO) FCTC was held on October 28, 1999.

        The WHO FCTC is the world's first modern-day global public health treaty. It was adopted by the World Health Assembly on May 21, 2003, and it came into effect on February 27, 2005.

ARREST OF FOREIGN TERROR SUSPECTS PROMPTS INDONESIA TO TIGHTEN SECURITY by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 15, 2014 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has announced rejection of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in the country and arrested local terror suspects who have declared their supports to the foreign group.

        Recently, two alleged ISIS supporters were arrested by Depok Resort Police Office in Beji Sub-district, Depok District, West Java Province.

          Firman Hidayat (36) and his father, Muhammad Firdaus (60), both Indonesians, were detained following a tip-off from a witness who saw an ISIS flag on a wall of their house, spokesperson of Jakarta's Police Office (Polda Metro Jaya) Senior Commissioner Rikwanto told the press on August 22, 2014.

JOKOWI AND PRABOWO, RECONCILE OR NOT TO RECONCILE By Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 13, 2014 (Antara) - There is no doubt that the July 2014 presidential election was the most closely contested in Indonesia's history with two pairs of candidates - Prabowo Subianto and Joko "Jokowi" Widodo - going head to head.

        Emotions were flying high, not only for presidential candidates' campaigners, but also volunteers and supporters who battled fiercely on the Internet to win votes for their respective candidates.

         The public had believed that once the campaigning period ended and they headed to polling stations across the country to cast their votes on July 9, 2014, the tension would ease and their normal life would return.

INDONESIA BRACES FOR FOREST FIRES AS HOTSPOTS EMERGE IN 15 PROVINCES by Fardah

  Jakarta, Sept 13, 2014 (Antara) - The ongoing drought hitting some parts of Indonesia have triggered the spreading of hotspots of forest and plantation fires in 15 provinces across the country.

         The 15 provinces affected by hotspots include East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, South Sumatra, East Java, Riau, Aceh, Lampung, and Bali, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

MP3EI, EXTRAORDINARY PROGRAM TO BOOST EQUITABLE, BALANCED ECONOMIC GROWTH by Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 12, 2014 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as the leader of a growing economic nation, has frequently promoted the need to achieve economic growth in equity.

          "It is clear from our deliberations that our ultimate goal of the post-2015 Development Agenda is to end world poverty and to improve the well-being of our citizens," the president said in New York, September 2012.

         He believed that an optimal balance should exist among economic growth, social equality, and environmental sustainability.

MANADO-DAVAO-RAJA AMPAT CONNECTIVITY EXPECTED TO BOOST TOURISM AND BUSINESS by Fardah

  Jakarta, Sept 11, 2014 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has encouraged domestic airlines to serve on the flight route connecting the scenic locations of Davao in Mindanao, Philippines, and Indonesia's Manado in North Sulawesi and Raja Ampat District in West Papua.

        The flight route is expected to boost the tourism industry, particularly in North Sulawesi and West Papua, Transportation Minister E.E. Mangindaan recently stated.    

INDONESIA SEES KAZAKHSTAN AS GATEWAY TO CENTRAL ASIA by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 10, 2014 (Antara) - Despite huge geographical distance, Indonesia and Kazakhstan have a lot in common as both countries have a moderate Muslim majority, rich cultural diversity and abundant natural resources.

         Indonesia and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations about 21 years ago following Indonesia's recognition of the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan on December 16, 1991.

         Since then, the two countries' top officials have exchanged many visits. The then President, Soeharto, paid a state visit to Almaty in April 1995, reciprocated by a state visit from President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Jakarta just over three months later, wrote Foster Gultom, Indonesian ambassador to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, in the Jakarta Post in an article in 2013.

INDONESIA, SINGAPORE SET NEW MILESTONE IN BILATERAL TIES by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 4 , 2014(Antara) - As immediate neighbors, Indonesia and Singapore fully realize that it is crucial to agree on border lines that geographically separating them, to prevent unnecessary territorial claim in the future.

        Before his tenure ends on October 20, 2014, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid a three-day state visit to Singapore, from September 2 to 4, 2013, at the invitation of Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S CADRE NAMED SUSPECT BY ANTI-GRAFT BODY By Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 5, 2014   (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was reportedly shocked over the naming of Jero Wacik (JW), senior cadre of the Democratic Party (PD), as a suspect in a graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

        JW, who is concurrently the energy and mineral resources minister, was named a suspect in a corruption case of allegedly misusing his position as minister to extort money worth Rp9.9 billion from various sources during the period 2011-2012.

        His fate might follow those of other prominent PD cadres, including Andi Mallarangeng, Anas Urbaningrum, Angelina Sondakh, and Nazarudin, who have ended up in the KPK's prison.

BALI OPTIMISTIC OF ACHIEVING 3.5 MILLION TOURIST TARGET by Fardah

 Jakarta, Sept 4, 2014 (Antara) - Bali, one of the world's most famous tourist destinations, has set a target of attracting at least 3.5 million foreign tourists, or a 10 percent increase, in 2014 from last year's target of 3.18 million.

       Some tourism stakeholders in Bali are optimistic that the target, which was set based on certain considerations, including national security, sanitation, traffic, and services, could be achieved.

SIGNING OF COC SMOOTHENS INDONESIA-AUSTRALIA TIES by Fardah

 Jakarta, Aug 30, 2014 (Antara) - The signing of a joint understanding of Code of Conduct (CoC) between Indonesia and Australia in Nusa Dua, Bali, on August 28, 2014, marked the normalization of bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.

         The signing of bilateral intelligence protocol is expected to formally end the diplomatic rift caused by allegations that an Australian spy agency had intercepted the phone calls of the Indonesian president.

         The CoC will also help resume cooperation in defense, intelligence, and border security between the nations.

INDONESIA, TIMOR LESTE COMMITTED TO GOOD NEIGHBORLY TIES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 29, 2014 (Antara) - The recent visit of the Indonesian president to Timor Leste has further strengthened bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries that were once in conflict immediately following a referendum in the former East Timor Province.

        President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had visited Dili, Timor Leste, on August 25-27, 2014--his second official visit to the half-island state after the previous visit in May 2012--at the invitation of Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak.

YUDHOYONO HELPS ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF NEXT GOVERNMENT by Fardah

  Jakarta, Aug 28 (Antara) - Since the beginning, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his intention to assist the next president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in preparing for the transition from the current administration to the next government.

        "This is my moral obligation as a former president later and as a good citizen who wishes to continue to serve his country with dedication," Yudhoyono, who will end his second presidential tenure on October 20, 2014, stated while delivering his last state-to-the-nation address at parliament building in Jakarta on August 16, 2014.  

RAJA AMPAT'S ENDEMIC CORAL REEFS WELL PRESERVED by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 27 (Antara) - Known for its intact marine ecosystem, West Papua Province's district of Raja Ampat has been actively promoted worldwide in attracting tourists over the last five years.  
    Literally meaning "Four Kings," Raja Ampat has been derived from a local myth and has one of the most beautiful marine panoramas in the world, and is located in the Coral Triangle area, the heart of the world's coral reef biodiversity.

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

BALI GEARS UP FOR SIXTH UNAOC GLOBAL FORUM by Fardah

   Jakarta, Aug 27, 2014 (Antara) - Bali Island, one of the world's most famous tourist destinations, is gearing up to host the Sixth Global Forum of United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

      The forum will be held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) on August 29 and 30, 2014.

         President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the UNAOC Global Forum, which will be attended by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN High Representative of the UNAOC Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, and Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak, as well as scores of ministers. 
    The Sixth UNAOC Global Forum, with this year¿s theme "Unity in Diversity", is focusing on four pillars: Education, Youth, Media, and Migration. The theme is based on Indonesia's national motto of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" or "Unity in Diversity."

CONSERVATION PERMIT EXPECTED TO SAVE SURABAYA ZOO'S ANIMALS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 26, 2014 (Antara) - The Surabaya municipal administration was finally granted the wildlife conservation permit expected to help save Surabaya Zoo from being closed down as many animals had died due to mismanagement over the past few years.

         While presenting the document to Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini on August 8, 2014, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated that the management of the zoo should be in accordance with the law on Natural Resource Conservation.

        "I have handed a decision of the Conservation Institution to the Surabaya mayor with regard to the Surabaya Zoo. So, I no longer owe anything to Surabaya. Under the decision, the zoo will serve as an education, recreation, and animal conservation center. Therefore, the zoo must not be managed like (it was done) in the past," Hasan noted.