EVERY STAKEHOLDER NEEDS TO JOIN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 27, 2016 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on every stakeholder to declare war against drug abuse and trafficking.Labels          Drug abuse tops the list of major problems being faced by Indonesia, he stated while chairing a limited cabinet meeting on drug eradication and rehabilitation program for victims of drug abuse, on February 24.      He urged the nation to seriously discuss issues related to the fight against the illicit circulation of drugs and the rehabilitation of drug addicts.    The number of drug users in the country in 2015 was about 5.9 million, according to data of the National Anti-Narcotic Agency (BNN).         "I want the drug eradication efforts to be stepped up and carried out in a bolder and `crazier' way, comprehensively, and in integrated manner," the Head of State said.          Every concerned institution must keep aside sectoral ego in tackling the problem, he reminded.

PROVINCES GEAR UP FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOURS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Feb 27, 2016 (Antara) - The upcoming total solar eclipse (TSE) on March 9 will be visible for around two to three minutes in 45 cities and districts in 12 provinces.

         These 12 Indonesian provinces are Bengkulu, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Jambi, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and North Maluku.

         The local regions are enthusiastically working to use the momentum of the rare and spectacular natural phenomenon to attract as many tourists as possible.

         It is believed that another total solar eclipse will return only in the next 100 years, though some say in the next 350 years.

         Central Sulawesi is expecting at least 10 thousand foreign tourists to arrive for the TSE, according to the province's Governor Longki Djanggola.

RI OFFERS SIMPLIFIED LICENSING SERVICES TO ATTRACT S KOREAN INVESTORS by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb. 26, 2016 (Antara)- The Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) earlier this month planned to  organize a Forum of South Korean Investors, dubbed "The Three Hours Investment Licenses and Green Lane Facility,"  to publicize the government's latest investor-friendly policies.          The Board also held a Korean Business Dialogue in Jakarta recently to offer easy investment services, called KLIK,  and a three-hour investment licensing facility in the infrastructure field, to 100 investors from South Korea attending the  event.          The new services were expected to lure more South Korean investors to invest in Indonesia, BKPM Chief Franky  Sibarani said in a press statement on Feb. 23.          The Korean Business Dialogue was organized by the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI),  Kocham, and the Korean Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).          Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong and the South Korean Ambassador to Indonesia, Cho Tae Young,  were present in the meeting.

AL-MUNAWAR KAMPONG GEARING UP FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TOUR by Fardah

Palembang, S Sumatra, Feb 24 , 2016 (Antara) - Palembang is expected to emerge as one of the favorite cities catering to tourists and scientists wanting to watch the total solar eclipse scheduled to occur on March 9 this year.          The city administration has been gearing up to facilitate the visitors in witnessing the very rare and spectacular phenomenon as well to explore various interesting tourism sites in the capital of South Sumatra Province.          Palembang is a multi-ethnic city where Malays, Javanese and those of Chinese and Arab descent have been living harmoniously and peacefully for hundreds of years.          It has the potential to develop religious, culinary, shopping and historical tourism attractions.          The city's icon, Ampera Bridge, will remain closed for public vehicles on the day of the eclipse, facilitating the pedestrians to observe the eclipse from the vantage point on the bridge freely and clearly.      Not far from the bridge, there is the little-known Al-Munawar kampong, an old Arab quarter which has a vibrant Islamic environment and a distinctive culture.

INDONESIAN SHOPPERS TO NO LONGER GET FREE PLASTIC BAGS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 23, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia is a haven for plastic lovers as shoppers can get free plastic bags and even request for extras to take home without being charged or questioned by shop cashiers.

          Hence, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia is estimated to generate 68 million tons of garbage in 2019, including around 9.52 tons of plastic garbage, or 14 percent of the total waste.

          According to a study conducted by a research team led by Jenna Jambeck from the University of Georgia, more than half of the plastic waste that flows into the oceans comes from five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.

          China is said to become the major contributor of the world's plastic waste, with 8.82 tons per year of mismanaged plastic waste, while Indonesia comes second, with 3.32 tons per year.

          However, the nation has decided to put an end to this luxury of having free plastic bags, as from February 21, customers in at least 22 cities will have to pay for the plastic bags they use to take home their purchases.

INDONESIA CONCERNED OVER DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 19, 2016 (Antara) - Israel has demolished thousands of Palestinian homes and confiscated  farming lands belonging to Palestinian Muslims as well as Christians in order to expand illegal resettlement areas  for settlers.          These settlers are from Europe and the United States and have been invited to live in the occupied Palestinian  land.        Between 1988 and 2014, Israel's Civil Administration, the governing body that operates in the West Bank, issued 14,000 demolition orders, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of  Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).          Since the start of October 2015, Israeli forces have killed more than 180 Palestinians including 49 children,  in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to the Defence for Children International (DCI)-Palestine,  which was quoted by QudsNet on February 16.          Indonesia has expressed its concerns that illegal resettlement activities by Israel that have reached  East Jerusalem would affect the demographic composition of the region and later make the Palestinian  people lose their rights in the area.          "The danger of resettlement is that they will change the demographic composition of Palestine. East  Jerusalem used to have many Palestinian residents, but day by day their number is becoming smaller due to  the presence of Jewish settlers," Director General of Multilateral Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign  Affairs Hasan Kleib said recently.

JOKOWI SAYS INDONESIA USES HARD AND SOFT POWER IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 18, 2016 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) shared Indonesia's experiences in dealing with terrorism at a special session on counterterrorism during the US-ASEAN Summit held in Sunnylands, California, the United States (US), on February 17.      The President emphasized the importance of moderation, peace, and tolerance during the session attended by President Barack Obama and leaders of the ASEAN member countries.     He outlined three points: promoting tolerance in the fight against terrorism and extremism, addressing the root cause of the problem, as well as creating conducive conditions.       "A combination of hard and soft power is needed to deal with extremism," the President, who was honored as the first speaker at the session, stated.

INDONESIA NEEDS MORE TIME TO DECIDE ON JOINING TPP by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 17, 2016 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has stated that Indonesia is still calculating the benefits and disadvantages of joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement that the United Sates has forged with 11 other countries.          Before attending the US-ASEAN Summit on February 15, Jokowi had said his working visit to the US was not related to the TPP Agreement.          "So, we are here, but it has nothing to do with TPP this time," the president told the press in Miramonte Resort, Indian Wells, California.          During his previous visit to the US last October, Jokowi did tell US President Barack Obama that Indonesia intended to join the TPP.          But, this time, he stated that his government would need to study the benefits of joining the pact.

INDONESIA, VIETNAM TO STEP UP COOPERATION TO DOUBLE TRADE TARGET by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 17, 2016 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung have agreed to step up bilateral economic cooperation in order to realize the trade target of US$10 billion by 2018, almost doubling it from the 2015 level of US$5.3 billion.

         "In the field of trade and investment, we hope the two countries will step up cooperation to realize the trade target of US$10 billion by 2018," Jokowi said after the bilateral meeting with Nguyen Tan Dung. The meeting came on the sidelines of the US-ASEAN Summit in California on Feb. 15, 2016.     
    Indonesia ranks at number 29 in Vietnam's list of foreign investors, below Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

         Prime Minister Nuyen Tan Dung told Jokowi that Vietnamese investors were interested in the fields of agriculture, oil and gas in Indonesia.  

PALEMBANG ENTHUSIASTIC TO WELCOME TOURISTS DURING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 15 , 2016 (Antara) - The South Sumatra administration has formulated plans to organize various attractive activities coinciding with the total solar eclipse (TSE) expected to occur on the morning of March 9, 2016.   
   The province will organize among other things a glowing night run, a supernatural community ritual, cultural performances, an international photography festival, a 30-meter-long barongsai show and an educational tour for students, organized jointly with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).

        The head of the South Sumatra Tourism and Cultural Office, Irene Camelyn Sinaga, has said the tourism office will also facilitate guests and take them to certain locations specially designated to watch the total solar eclipse.

        The city's icon, Ampera Bridge, will remain closed for public vehicles on the day of the eclipse, facilitating the pedestrians to observe the total solar eclipse from the vantage point on the bridge freely and clearly.  

BALI AND BEYOND TRAVEL FAIR TO OFFER ONE-STOP TOURISM SHOP by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 13, 2016 (Antara)- Hundreds of sellers and buyers from many countries are expected to meet in the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2016 which is to be held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Badung District, Bali, on June 22-26 this year.

        The Third BBTF to be theme "Where The World Comes to Meet", has been viewed as being an efficient platform since travel buyers and sellers will be able to meet during a single event that will display tourism-related services such as hotels, resorts, new and rare tourism destinations, restaurants, and travel operators.

         Therefore, it is no wonder that Venture Holidays' Director Ian Garrit of Australia, has expressed his enthusiasm to participate in the travel fair.

         Garrit, in his letter quoted by Chairman of the BBTF Organizing Committee Ketut Ardana, recently said that he is looking forward to not only signing contracts with the existing buyers for the period between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018, but would also learning new products to be offered in the fair for the coming years.

JAKARTA BRACES FOR FLOODING DURING PEAK RAINY SEASON by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 13, 2016 (Antara) - The Jakarta administration is intensifying efforts to normalize sewage systems in the capital city as the rainy season is forecast to reach its peak in February.         In early February, floods reaching a height of up to 120 cm. inundated 20 neighborhoods in South and East Jakarta municipalities.         "Pumps were used to drain water. Gradually, the floodwaters are receding," spokesman of the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD Bambang Suryaputra said February 4.           In East Jakarta, flood-affected areas included Cawang, Kampung Melayu and Bidara Cina, and in South Jakarta it was Pejaten Timur, Pengadegan, Rawajati, Kebon Baru, and Bukit Duri.          Following the incessant downpour on February 12, the Ciracas Police Complex was flooded, Jakarta's Police reported on its official Twitter account  @TMCPoldaMetro in the evening.         Penggilingan Baru and Kampung Pulo areas in East Jakarta were also inundated.

FLOODS SPREAD TO WIDER AREAS IN SUMATRA, JAVA by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 11, 2016 (Antara)- With the ongoing rainy season peaking, flooding and landslides have hit 166 districts and municipalities in several provinces, including West and North Sumatra; Riau, Jambi, Aceh, Bangka Belitung; West, East, and Central Java; and West Kalimantan.

       Of the 166 regions, 103 were flooded, and 63 others were hit by landslides, spokesman of the Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Nugroho Sutopo informed the press in Jakarta on Feb. 10, 2016, regarding the natural disasters that had occurred from January 1 to February 8, this year.

        During the period, floods killed 14 people, injured four others, and forced 102,219 people to seek refuge. 
  Landslides left 29 dead, injured seven, and forced 395 people to flee their homes.

CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES ENLIVEN INDONESIAN TOURISM by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 8, 2016 (Antara)- Various regions in Indonesia have organized festivities to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year 2576, or the Spring Festival, which falls on February 8.

          Imlek, as the occasion is locally known, is the most important traditional festival celebrated among Chinese families.

          The population of Indonesians of Chinese descent is believed to be some 10 million, which is approximately four to five percent of the total population of the country, which has the largest number of Muslims in the world.

         Since 2002, the Chinese New Year has been marked as a national holiday on the Indonesian calendar, due to which all government offices, schools, universities, and companies remain closed during the celebration.

GOVERNMENT TO SYNERGIZE DATA ON POVERTY by Fardah

  Jakarta, Feb 6 , 2016(Antara) - Data on poverty is often confusing as it usually comes from various sources and different methods of data collection are applied.

         To address such a problem, an agreement was recently reached during a meeting to create an integrated database to synergize data on poverty handling sourced from various ministries.

         "So, while informing the public about a program, there would no longer be any overlapping or invalid (data)," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani stated in Jakarta, February 4, 2016, after attending a plenary meeting on poverty reduction efforts chaired by Vice President Jusuf M. Kalla.

         With the presence of a consolidated database, the government plans to integrate its poverty reduction programs, such as the Hopeful Family Program (PKH), the Indonesian Health Card (KIS), the Social Protection Card (KPS), and the Indonesian Smart Card (KIP), with the data available in the electronic identity (e-ID) cards.

         "So, we want to integrate all data to develop a single database, and its usage can help to synergize the existing programs," she explained.

INDONESIA TO BUILD ASIAN-AFRICAN VILLAGE IN WEST BANDUNG by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 6, 2016 (Antara) -   West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan has disclosed that an Asian-African village will be constructed in West Bandung District, West Java Province.

     The project is being undertaken as mandated in the  recommendations of the Asia-Africa Conference (AAC) Commemorative Summit held in Jakarta and Bandung, in April 2015.

    The basic concept of the village, which would become a tourist attraction, was, in fact, formulated 11 years ago, the governor said.

    "We welcome the generosity of the Provincial Government of West Java in providing a venue in Bandung, Indonesia, for the establishment of an Asian African Village in celebration of the mutual bond of friendship between Africa and Asia," a joint ministerial statement on the new Asian-African strategic partnership plan of action said.

   The meeting was held in Bandung, in 2005,  in conjunction with the Commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Asian-African Conference of 1955.

     The concept of the Asian-African village will be similar to the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) in Jakarta, where visitors can see replicas of various traditional houses existing in every region in the country.

      The new village will become a "show room" for African and Asian countries to display replicas of their traditional houses and heritage.
      Deputy District Head of West Bandung Yayat T Soemitra said the village will be built in a tea plantation area of Mandalawangi Maswati (Walini), covering  350 hectares of land.

BALI TARGETS TO RECEIVE AT LEAST 4.2 MILLION FOREIGN TOURISTS IN 2016 by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 5, 2016 (Antara) - Bali has maintained its reputation as one of the world's best islands and managed to attract over four million foreign tourist arrivals last year.          In its December 2015 edition, the New York-based Travel + Leisure Magazine placed Bali in second place with a score of 88.98 in the ratings of the world's best islands.          Galapagos Islands of Ecuador was in the top with the highest score of 90.82, and Maldives in the third rank with a score of 88.53.          "I am very proud of Bali for being selected as one of the world's best islands," Tourism Minister Arief Yahya commented in early January 216.          Travel + Leisure is a monthly magazine based in New York with 4.8 million readers. It is the biggest competitor of Conde Nast Traveler and National Geographic Traveler.           The Bali Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded a total of 4.001 million foreign tourist arrivals during 2015, up 6.24 percent from 3.76 million recorded in the previous year.

INDONESIA, HUNGARY COMMITTED TO FOSTERING CLOSER ECONOMIC TIES by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 4, 2016 (Antara) - The three-day official visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Indonesia has served as a momentum to strengthen commitment to forging closer economic ties between the two countries.         Orbán arrived in Jakarta on January 31 in the company of a large entourage that included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, Minister of National Economy Mihály Varga, Minister for National Development Miklós Seszták, and Minister of Agriculture Sándor Fazekas.         "We are a member country of the European Union, which perceives Indonesia as a big country, which is also a member of G-20. In our view, Indonesia is not only a country but a continent, which plays a very important role in the world," Orbán stated after holding a one-on-one meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the presidential State Palace in Jakarta on Feb. 1.         Orbán believed that bilateral cooperation with Indonesia must be developed on the long term based on friendship and mutual understanding and benefits.

SPECIAL AUTHORITY REQUIRED TO MANAGE LAKE TOBA AS WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 3, 2016 (Antara) - Lake Toba located in North Sumatra Province is not just an ordinary lake but is the largest volcanic lake on Earth.

        The lake has been formed by a steep-walled caldera produced during the Toba volcano's eruption, the largest known volcanic eruption on the planet in the past two million years.

        The powerful eruption, an extremely rare event, is called a supervolcanic eruption.

        When viewed from space, the Toba caldera is one of the most striking volcanic craters on Earth, measuring 100 x 30 kilometers.

        The ancient lake's uniqueness, beautiful natural scenery, and the rich coastal culture of North Sumatra's people living around Lake Toba have attracted several domestic and foreign tourists.

        To boost the tourism industry in North Sumatra Province, the government has designated Lake Toba as a world-class tourist destination aimed at improving the livelihood of the local community.

INDONESIA, TIMOR LESTE COMMITTED TO SOLVING LAND, MARITIME BORDER ISSUES by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 2, 2016 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) first state visit to Timor Leste on January 26 was considered brief but meaningful in strengthening bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries and addressing land and maritime border issues.

         During the one-day visit, Jokowi, who was accompanied by First Lady Iriana, reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to becoming a major development partner of Timor Leste.

         In separate bilateral meetings with Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak and Prime Minister Maria De Araujo, Jokowi discussed issues and efforts to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and infrastructure development.

        The leaders witnessed the signing of five memoranda of understanding on cooperation in: youth and sports, archives, climatology and geophysics, search and rescue, and energy and mineral resources.

         The two countries' leaders also reiterated their joint commitment to accelerating solutions to land and maritime border issues.

News Focus - PRESIDENT JOKOWI OPEN TO INPUTS ON HIGH-SPEED RAILWAY PROJECT by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 1, 2016 (Antara)- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed willingness to consider any inputs from different parties regarding the ongoing Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project.

        Various opinions, particularly concerning the project's licensing problems and environmental impact assessment (Amdal), surfaced following the groundbreaking event.  
   The head of state officiated the groundbreaking of the project in Cikalong Wetan, Bandung District, West Java Province, on January 21, aimed at improving public mass transportation and the public's welfare.

        "After the groundbreaking ceremony for the implementation of the high-speed train project, there are inputs, which we have read in public, including from members of the Parliament and also from community groups. Of course, the president listens to them," Johan Budi S.P., presidential special staff in charge of communication, stated in Jakarta, on January 27.

         The project was decided after a lengthy process and not instantly, he stated.