BALI DEMOCRACY FORUM CALLS FOR SYNERGY OF RELIGIONS, TOLERANCE AND DEMOCRACY by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 10, 2016 (Antara) - The Bali Democracy Forum, attended by over 200 delegates from 96 countries and five international organizations, has called for a synergy of religions, tolerance and democracy during the two-day meeting that took place in Nusa Dua, Bali, some 20 days before the year 2016 ends.
         The theme of this year's forum is "Religion, Democracy and Tolerance," which is highly relevant due to the current global situation witnessing an increase in narrow understanding of religions.
         "Tolerance is needed because we are diverse," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said in his opening remarks on Dec 8.
         Religion plays a crucial role in people's lives in terms of their social, economic and political existence on a national, regional and global scale, he stated.
         He said Islam came to Indonesia first in the 7th century with a peaceful spirit, which Indonesian Muslims have continued to foster until now.
         "Beside Muslims, Indonesia is also home for Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucians," he said, emphasizing the importance of tolerance and pluralism.
         "There are more than 1,300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation. Muslims make up 85 percent of the population of 252 million," Jokowi noted.
         The Indonesian Government has been active in encouraging synergy between democracy, religion, and tolerance, to promote harmony among Indonesian citizens. 
    The head of state said it is crucial to make sure that democracy works well, supports stability and peace, and brings prosperity to the public.

JAKARTA'S "212" MASS FRIDAY PRAYER FOR NATIONAL UNITY by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 5, 2016 (Antara) - A mass Friday prayer held in downtown  Jakarta on December 2, 2016 was a historic event for the Muslims of Indonesia as it was believed to be the largest ever Friday prayer held on the streets with several million people attending.

        Muslim men and women who participated in the prayer came not only from Jakarta but also from other provinces throughout Indonesia. No flags of political parties or banners of any gubernatorial candidates were seen during the mass prayers. Several non-Muslim sympathizers, including those of Chinese descent, were also present.

        Most of the audience came on its own, bearing their own expenses, and many of them claimed they were moved to join the prayer because of their love for Islam and in particular for its Holy Book, Al Quran, and for maintaining the unity and diversity of Indonesia.

        Even the organizer of the mass Friday prayer, the National Movement of Guardians of the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) did not make any claim that bringing together so many people was in any way their success.

        The GNPF-MUI leaders believed that no figure or party or organization could have mobilized such big numbers. The crowd turned up because of an appeal to their conscience.

        No one could have the exact count of audience's numbers but the GPMUI estimated it to be around 7.5 million. Different media, however, came out with different estimations, varying from hundreds of thousands, one million, two million, or even three million.

TOUR DE TIMOR CYCLISTS THRILLED BY EXTREME TOPOGRAPHY OF TIMOR by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 3, 2016 (Antara) - Fifty cyclists who participated in the cycling and tourism event, Tour de Timor (TdT), reached the finish line in Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Dec 2, 2016, after traversing through six districts of Timor Island.

       Their arduous journey had begun on Nov 30, 2016.

        NTT Governor Frans Leburaya greeted the participants who had started from Belu District, which shares border with the tiny country called Timor Leste, located in the eastern part of Timor Island.

       Riky, a TdT event organizer, disclosed that all the participants were Indonesians.

        All of them agreed that they enjoyed the tour very much, right from the start till the finish, Ricky added.

        They expressed their gratitude towards the local inhabitants and officials of the six districts for their hospitality and warm welcome.

        The cyclists were thrilled and challenged by the extreme topography of the Timor Island, which was very steep in certain locations, beritantt.com reported.

        They looked forward to again participating in the annual sports event, and hoped more cyclists from many countries will join them.

         Governor Leburaya promised to hold the TdT and Tour de Flores events annually to promote tourism in his province.

        He admitted that the TdT's implementation witnessed some shortcomings this year and promised to improve these next year.

CROSS-MINISTERIAL COORDINATION NEEDED TO HANDLE STREET CHILDREN PROBLEM by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 2, 2016 (Antara) - It takes a village to raise a child, according to an African proverb that leverages the cultural context and belief that it takes an entire community to raise a child.

         To deal with the problem of street children in particular, the Social Affairs Ministry alone is not enough. The cause needs cross-ministerial coordination, among other things, to return the children to their homes so that they can live decently.

         Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa recently informed that an MOU among multiple ministries and community elements was signed on helping street children. 
    "We agreed today to have an MOU among multiple ministries and community elements. There is a commitment to achieve a street-children free Indonesia by 2017," the minister said during an event, named "Declaration Towards Street-Children Free Indonesia (MIBAJ) by 2017." The event was held at the National Monument (Monas), Central Jakarta, on Nov 28, 2016.

         This was in line with a commitment to achieving the target under the street-children free Indonesia program by 2017.

         In fact, the declaration about the program was made for the first time in 2015, and the latest event was to reiterate that determination.

         Among the ministries involved in the program are the Manpower Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Coordinating Ministry for Cultural and Human Development, and the Health Ministry.

"UNITED NUSANTARA" CELEBRATES "UNITY IN DIVERSITY" OF INDONESIA by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 1, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic country, is blessed with more than 17 thousand islands, 700 tribes, and over 1,100 different local languages and dialects.

         Although over 80 percent of its population of more than 250 million comprises Muslims. People having different faiths such as Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, have been living here in harmony for many decades.

         "Our diversity is God's gift that we must all be grateful for. This is also our strength and we can boast about it to other countries. Though we have a lot of diversity, we remain united," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said while speaking before young members of Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, in Banten, on Nov 30.

         The country's founding fathers have been very wise in choosing "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika," or Unity in Diversity as the national motto.

         To celebrate the diversity and unity of the nation, a peaceful assembly called United Nusantara (Archipelago) was organized simultaneously at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta, and in other cities across the country, on Nov 30.

         The assembly, aimed at strengthening the sense of unity and integrity of the nation, witnessed the participation of thousands of people that included prominent religious figures, ulemas, students, musicians, youth and other elements of the nation.   
     The Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), General Gatot Nurmantyo, and Chief of the Indonesian Police, General Tito Karnavian, attended the gathering which was also called a 'roll call.'

HIV PREVENTION CRUCIAL TO END AIDS EPIDEMIC by Fardah

 Jakarta, Dec 1, 2016 (Antara)- World AIDS Day is held on the 1st December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have died.

        Held for the first time in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day,  aimed at raising awareness of AIDS epidemic, according to information on www.worldaidsday.org.

        Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.   
    An estimated 34 million people have the virus globally.

         The theme of World AIDS Day this year is "Hands Up For #HIVPrevention," which is highlighting how HIV prevention needs to be re-invigorated as a crucial part of efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

         Prevention programs that include  providing HIV information, condom distribution and outreach to young people and key populations, are often the first entry point for individuals to HIV testing and treatment.

          In Indonesia, the commemoration of World AIDS Day was centered in Surabaya, that has the highest number of HIV virus infection in the country.

         "East Java is a province with high rate of HIV infection, along with Jakarta, Papua, West and Central Java," Indonesia's Health Minister Nila F Moeloek said while leading the function in Surabaya, East Java, on Dec 1.