After Papuans Released, Indonesia Urged to Free Maluku Prisoners

Jakarta Globe, Katharina R. Lestari & Ryan Dagur, May 18, 2015

President Joko Widodo shakes hands with freed Papuan political prisoners during
a ceremony in Abepura prison in Jayapura on May 9. (AFP Photo/Romeo Gacad)

Jakarta. Indonesia’s release of five Papuan political prisoners earlier this month must be quickly followed by granting amnesty to political prisoners from neighboring Maluku province, activists say.

At least 24 pro-sovereignty activists from Maluku remain behind bars, according to Samuel Weileruny of the Maluku Civil Community Advocacy Center. These include nine political prisoners who were sentenced in mid-January to prison terms of up to four years on charges of treason.

“What we fight for is the truth, and we do it in peaceful and dignified ways,” Weileruny told Ucanews.com in an interview.

He said that jailing political activists for treason was improper.

“Treason means a threat expressed with violence. People committing treason should at least have weapons so as to equally fight against the state. But we don’t do that,” he said.

Pro-sovereignty activists in Maluku have long advocated for an autonomous state known as the South Maluku Republic (RMS).

RMS attempted to secede in 1950 but was defeated by Indonesian forces the same year. A low-level armed struggle followed on Seram Island until 1963. But in recent years, the movement has become more symbolic in nature, with activists participating in banned RMS flag-raising and peaceful ceremonies.

Simon Saija is one such activist. He was among the nine arrested last year for marking the April 25, 1950, anniversary of RMS’s original declaration of independence. After President Joko Widodo earlier this month granted clemency to the five Papuan political prisoners, one of Saija’s relatives, who did not want to be named, said political prisoners from Maluku also deserve leniency.

“The fight of political activists in both Maluku and Papua isn’t the same, but they both fight for their rights,” the relative said. “So don’t just send them to jail.”

Yanes Balubun, a lawyer for the nine Maluku defendants, didn’t want to compare the situation in Papua with the one in Maluku, but he noted that they are now both peaceful movements.

“This is the same political stance, which is done in a peaceful way. So the Indonesian government should treat them the same,” he told Ucanews.com.

Moshe Tuwanakotta was jailed in 2004 after he brought an RMS flag to a peaceful rally that year. He questioned why some Papuan political prisoners were released, but not activists from Maluku.

“Political prisoners in Maluku must be released too, just like our friends in Papua. Why did Jokowi grant clemency only to Papuan political prisoners? Maluku also has political prisoners,” he said.

Joko granted clemency to the five Papuan political prisoners on May 9 during a trip to Papua. The president had earlier visited Maluku, though he did not announce any clemency deals there.

Andreas Harsono, the Indonesia researcher for Human Rights Watch, said he met with the Papuan political prisoners after their release. Their accounts of a conversation with Joko lead him to believe that prisoners from Maluku may eventually be freed as well.

“If we see from Jokowi’s talk with those released Papuan political prisoners, it seems that freedom will also be afforded to political prisoners in Maluku, remembering that many political prisoners remain behind bars,” he said.

Either way, many observers see Joko’s clemency deal for the Papuans as being insufficient.

Activists say clemency implies an admission of guilt; they are arguing instead for a general amnesty.

“We hope that [the president] grants amnesty or abolition instead of clemency,” Weileruny said.

“Clemency is a pardon, it means we are guilty. If we are guilty, it means that what has been done, like torture and limitations on our rights, is justified.”

This story was first published by Ucanews and was edited for style by the Jakarta Globe.

Indonesia, US Foundation to Build World War II Museum in Morotai

Jakarta Globe, Ezra Sihite, June 20, 2012

Indonesia and the US MacArthur Foundation are planning to build a World War II and Operation Trikora museum on Morotai Island near North Maluku.

Morotai played a strategic role in the US advances against the Japanese during World War II, and was also used as a base during the struggle to win Papua from the Dutch colonial administration in the early 1960s — an operation known as Trikora. Planes were based at Morotai as a station to attack Biak island in Papua.

“General Douglas McArther, as the commander of the allied forces in the Pacific during World War II, was known for his frog leap strategy. He jumped from island to island and attacked Morotai island from Biak to paralyze the Japanese occupation forces there,” said Al Busyra Basnur, the US consul general in Houston, Texas in a press release.

The allied forces then build seven airstrips on Morotai to facilitate air strikes on the Philippines.

Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono and North Maluku Governor Thaib Armaiyn made a visit on Monday to the MacArthur Memorial and MacArthur Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, to discuss the plan, according to Busyra. 

Busyra added that the initial plans to build the museum coincided with the Sail Morotai 2012 event, which will include a parachute jump event, a rocket launch by the National Aerospace and Aviation Institute (Lapan) and a parade of warships and sailboats from various countries.

On Sept 15, at the peak of Sail Morotai, World War II veterans and members of the Trikora operation, will be on hand.

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Indigenous Tribes Call for Land Law At 4th Congress

Jakarta Globe, Philip Jacobson & Daniel Pye, April 20, 2012

Indigenous Tribes Call for Land Law At 4th Congress Indigenous peoples
 began their fourth congress in Tobelo, North Maluku on Thursday.
JG Photo/Philip Jacobson & Daniel Pye

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Tobelo, North Maluku. Under a blue sky on Thursday, thousands of indigenous people from across the country marched around the town of Tobelo in northern Halmahera.

Local residents and reporters lined the route, snapping photos of the parade that marked the start of the fourth congress of the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN).

This year’s congress, which runs until Wednesday, has come a long way from when it was first held 13 years ago in Jakarta.

For the first time, lawmakers and government officials are involved, with House of Representatives Speaker Marzuki Alie and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu among participants.

“We do not look at the government as the enemy. We see them as a potential partner,” said Patricia Wattimena, AMAN’s officer on advocacy and Asean affairs.

It was a sentiment echoed by the event’s keynote speaker, Noer Fauzi Rachman, the head of the agrarian studies department at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), albeit with a harsher bent.

“The state is the source of the problems, but it can also solve the problems,” he said.

Fauzi, who wrote his dissertation on land reform and rural social movements in Indonesia for the University of California, Berkeley, said indigenous people felt as if they were being “sacrificed by the state.”

He said government lines such as “land acquisition for development” meant nothing as long as indigenous people were excluded from the political process.

“They need genuine participation and representation in the political process,” he said.

Highlighting the thrust toward working with the government, AMAN, which was formed during the first congress in 1999 and is now Indonesia’s largest indigenous peoples organization, presented the government with a draft bill that would change how they are seen under law.

If passed into law, the bill would give indigenous people the right to free, prior and informed consent, allowing them to withhold consent and effectively veto initiatives such as mining projects or a plantation concession that might affect their land and disrupt their way of life.

Henry Saragih, head of the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI), compared the situation to colonialism and called for more indigenous people in the House.

“Indigenous people are in crisis. We did the water ritual, but most indigenous people don’t have sovereignty over their own water,” he said, referring to the ceremony that served as the climax of the parade. Community representatives poured water they had brought into a large fountain to symbolize unity.

Mari later told participants that the knowledge of indigenous peoples — sustainable fishing techniques, for example — could be harnessed to “add value to resources” and create a high-value local economy.

“This can be a new strength for Indonesia so that indigenous people can not only prosper but be happy,” she said.

But Fauzi responded by telling Mari that indigenous peoples’ rights to their land must be clearly stated in law, and he urged the acceptance of the draft law.

Lisga Klisye, from Ambon, Maluku, said he had seen too many people displaced by forestry, mining and plantation interests to take Mari at face value.

“We still don’t trust the government,” he said, speaking through a greying beard hanging off his chin. “Not yet.”

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Indonesian Woman Wins Peace Award

Jakarta Globe, October 19, 2011

Indonesian woman Electronita Duan, center, receiving the N-PEACE
award in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo supplied)  

      

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An Indonesian woman has won a United Nations Development Program-sponsored peace award for helping to build peace and prevent conflict in North Maluku.

Electronita Duan, from Halmahera, was awarded the N-PEACE award along with fellow peace advocates Filomena Barros dos Reis of East Timor, Purna Shova Chitrakar of Nepal and Shreen Abdul Saroor of Sri Lanka.

The awards were presented during a ceremony in Bangkok on Wednesday, a UNDP news release said.

The N-PEACE Network Web site, according to its Web site, operates in four high-risk crisis countries "that face chronic emergencies due to high-risk of conflict and susceptibility to natural disasters."

Electronita is one of the founders of Politeknik Perdamaian Halamahera, an institute of higher education for those whose studies were interrupted by conflict and who could not afford to resume their educations, the news release said.

“Electronita knew that normalcy could never return to conflict zones without a skilled and educated population,” it said.

The Indonesian activist was quoted as saying that she “believes and trusts in the work done by women at any level.”

She said she believed in the power of networking and advocates for “creating economic opportunities and providing education, the best strategies to prevent conflicts and ensure sustainable peace.”

Some 225 women who are community leaders in conflict prevention, dispute resolution, post-crisis reconstruction and peace-building, participate in the N-PEACE network and communicate online and through face-to-face consultations to share experiences and strategies in advocating, promoting and keeping peace in their countries, the release said.

The N-PEACE Network was launched in 2010 to mark the ten-year anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Jakarta Globe

Time for N. Maluku to become tourist destination

Antara News, Sun, May 8 2011

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Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will promote North Maluku as a tourist destination besides the already existing ten, an promotion official of the ministry said.

Children night festival at Ambon,
Maluku. (ANTARA/Jimmy Ayal)

Deputy Director for Promotion of Destination Area V of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Diah Widiati said here on Sunday that ten tourist destinations registered by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) are Bali, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Jakarta, North Sumatra, Lampung, South Sulawesi, South Sumatra, Banten and West Sumatra.

Actually, East Indonesian province has the potential of cultural and tourism which can lure a great number of local and foreign tourists if it is introduced properly, Diah Widiati.

"Thus, we promoted North Maluku, in the hope of attracting more tourists," she said.

Apart from intensifying tourism promotion, Diah said that her office also required the provincial administration to prepare proper transportation and accommodation facilities for the tourists.

Data obtained from the provincial administration showed that only 1,500 tourists visited North Maluku in the January-April, 2011, period.

According to her, a similar problem is also facing Papua province which was not registered by the Central Statistics Agency as one of Indonesia`s tourist destinations although Papua has fascinating undersea wealth.

One of the tourism potentials which can attract tourists to Papua province is "Pulau Raja Empat". a beautiful island with fascinating undersea wealth.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

World youth assembly in Ambon to have strategic impact

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Sat, April 9 2011

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A World Assembly of Youth (WAY) scheduled to be held in Ambon, Maluku, in July this year is expected to have a strategic impact on the promotion of Maluku province abroad.

Maluku`s Regional Executive Council of the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) chairman Zaharuddin Latuconsina said in Ambon on Friday that preparations were being made for the success of the World Assembly of Youth in the provincial scenic city of Ambon.

Zaharuddin said technical matters relating to the preparation were being made for a big success of the event.

"Around 120 youths from around the world are scheduled to attend the meeting and therefore we are determined to be a successful host to yield a world peace recommendation in Ambon," Zaharuddin said.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said the provincial government would fully support the event and to this end had issued a decree on the formation of the meeting`s organizing committee, chaired by the head of the local national education office, Salim Kairoty.

"From Maluku`s 2011 regional budget we have allocated a certain amount of funds to support the holding of the international conference in Ambon," Ralahalu said.

Two other international events, namely World Peace Day was held in Ambon on November 25, 2009 then in less than a year Ambon again organized the international marine event of Sail Banda from July 24 to August 17, 2010.

"It means Maluku has been trusted to hold other events like the World Assembly of Youth and therefore it should be supported optimally by all people in the province," the governor said.

Ralahalu also called on his people to make every effort to support the success of the international meeting because it has a strategic impact on the promotion of the province abroad.

"It will have a strategic significance because the participants will promote the real condition of Maluku to their relatives, including the government, investors, and even non-government organization upon returning to their respective countries," Ralahalu said.

Menwhile Zaharuddin pointed out that the Central Executive Council`s Chairman of the Indonesian Youth National Committee, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the World Youth has said Maluku has been designated as the site of the 34th World Peace.

The decision was made related to the holding of World Peace Day in Ambon on November 25, 2009 which was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Zaharuddin noted, the World Youth Organization agreed to choose Maluku as host because the region was torn by a three-year sectarian conflict from 1999 to 2002 but it was overcome by social institutions through the promotion of local culture namely "Pela and Gandong."

The "Pela and Gandong" culture is the glue of brotherly life as a heritage which should be preserved and promoted to the international world, then became a model of social life with a plurality of society and religion.

Zaharuddin said, the brotherly ties between the Batumerah village people (Muslim majority) and Passo (Christians) will also be shown to the participants in the World Youth meeting to discuss the world youth program of handling the global warming.

Youths and young leaders from 120 countries who were grouped in World Assembly of Youth at an International Youth Forum On Climate Change 2011 (IYFCC 2011) from February 21-27, 2011 in Jakarta, South Sulawesi, Central Kalimantan and East Nusatenggara also spoke out on climate change and global warming.

With the selected theme "Listen to us, Sense Our Worries", the event gave an opportunity to the youth and young leaders to speak out

out on climate change by improving, understanding and inspiring the necessary actions to fight global warming and other related factors.

The event at the time was organized by Indonesia National Youth Council-Central Board in collaboration with the World Assembly of Youth (WAY), Asian Youth Council (AYC), Indonesia National Youth Council-South Sulawesi Board, Indonesia National Youth Council-Central Borneo Board, Indonesia National Youth Council-East Nusa Tenggara Board and the support of the Indonesian Government.

The World Assembly of Youth promotes the work of youth organizations in areas such as: democracy, environment, human rights, population, health, drugs, community development, leadership training, and cultural and religious tolerance.

It provides opportunities for youth representatives from different countries to exchange ideas and experiences, to coordinate program plans, and to reach a better understanding of each others` problems due to differences in racial, religious and national backgrounds.

Since its formation, WAY has increased its membership of national youth councils to the present 93 full members, from as many countries from all continents. Furthermore WAY has 7 associated members and 22 organizations of observer status.

According to Zaharuddin, the the upcoming international youth forum in Ambon in July this year would an honor to Maluku province.

He expressed hope that such an international event could motivate motivate both Indonesian as well as international community to be more concerned about climate change issues.

He explained that efforts to build awareness of youth as the pioneer in addressing climate change would be discussed in that international forum.

Editor: Jafar M Sidik

20 Indonesian/Dutch players coming to RI for soccer event

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 03/09/2011

Twenty Indonesian soccer players of mixed descent from the Netherlands will arrive in Indonesia this Sunday for a special soccer-related event.

Former captain of the Netherlands
’ 2010 World Cup team Giovanni
van Bronckhorst

Among them is former captain of the Netherlands’ 2010 World Cup team Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the President’s special staffer for regional development and autonomy, Felix Wanggai, said Wednesday, as reported by antaranews.com.

They will be in Indonesia for 12 days for a program termed “Indonesia is my country”, which is aimed at motivating Indonesian players, Felix said.

All of the players are of Indonesian and Dutch descent and have played in competitions in Europe.

They will arrive in Indonesia this coming Sunday and leave on March 24. They will first go to Ambon before heading to Jakarta and then to Denpasar. During their visit, they will train young players, conduct workshops for local coaches and play in friendly competitions.

“They are also scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono," Felix said.

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Dutch soccer star to visit Ambon

Antara News, Tue, February 22 2011

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Former Dutch football national team captain Giovani van Bronkhost of Maluku descent is scheduled to visit the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon from March 14 to 17, 2011.

Former Dutch football national team captain Giovani van Bronkhost

Maluku provincial board All Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairman Dirk Soplanit said here on Tuesday that Giovani`s planned visit to Ambon was part of so-called "Indonesia Tanah Air Beta" (My Homeland Indonesia) program.

Soplanit confirmed that the assistant coach at the Feyenoord club and the television commentator in Dutch soccer match would visit Maluku provincial city of Ambon.

"I have received a faximile from PSSI about the visit to Indonesia by 20 Dutch football players of Indonesia origin, and one of them is Giovani van Bronkhost whose mother is from Maluku," Soplanit said.

He said the 20 football players from the Netherlands would visit Indonesia at the invitation of Indonesian government.

"It is said in the faximile I received from the PSSI that Giovani and his colleagues are scheduled to meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta," Soplanit said.

He said preparation for the visit to Ambon by Giovani and his colleagues has been made and would be reported to Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu who is concurrently the chairman of Maluku National Sports Council (KONI).

"We are going to report to the governor today (Tuesday) about the preparation for the visit to Ambon by Giovani and his colleagues from the Netherlands," Soplanit said, adding that Giovani`s fans in Maluku were looking forward to meeting the Dutch soccer star.

According to him, Giovani and friends would stay at Aston Hotel at Natsepa Beach resort in Suli village during the visit.

Soplanit said they were also scheduled to carry out friendly matches with "Maluku Old Star" soccer team, to provide soccer training to the players of early age, to visit Pombo island tourism resort, and to do other activities.

Editor: Priyambodo

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Various parties declare commitment to peace in Indonesia

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Wed, February 16 2011

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Too many people think of "Peace" as some sort of will-o`-the-wisp thing that can be discovered through a constant and relentless search.

(ANTARA News/Eric Ireng)

Acts of violence and the issue of peace in Indonesia are not just political and religious matters; they are moral and spiritual issues that have to be solved properly.

Accordingly, many parties in various parts of the country in the last couple of days have called for and declared their commitment to peace, following violence triggered by religious issues recently.

At the Bajra Sandi monument area in Denpasar, Bali, hundreds of Balinese women on Tuesday declared an "Indonesian Women`s Association for Global Peace (IWAG-Peace)."

"The declaration of IWAG-Peace is intended to neutralize violent conflicts in the name of religion in various areas across the country," event coordinator Putu Sri Puji Astuti said in Denpasar on Tuesday.

According to Putu Sri, the declaration of IWAG-Peace in Bali was one of four similar events, organized simultaneously in four Indonesian cities namely Denpasar, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta in conjunction with Valentine`s Day.

She also called on the government to act decisively to resolve conflicts that occur and to prevent them from becoming serious and complicated problems.

Putu Sri pointed out that if the government failed to neutralize emerging conflicts, the IWAG-Peace would unhesitatingly bring them to the United Nations.

"If the government fails to solve emerging problems, the Indonesian women will rise to bring the problem to the international community," she said.

Therefore President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday called on all Muslims in the country to solve any arising problem in a peaceful and dignified manner.

In his address at a so-called Dzikir Akbar, a mass religious gathering for joint prayers to observe the Prophet Muhammad`s birthday at the south square of the National Monument here on Tuesday, the president called on Muslims to emulate the prophet who used to overcome problems peacefully.

"The prophet set examples from which can conclude that to make great changes in the right direction and to solve problems, it should be done in a peaceful and dignified manner," the president said.

President Yudhoyono pointed out that if all Muslims in Indonesia seriously followed the examples of Prophet Muhammad, the country would be blessed and all its struggles would succeed.

"Let us make the prophet`s nature and personality as our model, his leadership, his wisdom, and his nurturing nature in our effort to march to a better future," the president said.

The head of state also called on all of his countrymen not to easily give up in facing severe tests and trials.

"Even in a difficult situations, we have to be more cohesive, stronger, and more united instead of making noise and blaming each other," the president said.

Meanwhile, Majelis Rasulullah (prophet-led council) leader Habib Munzir Bin Fuad Al Musawa in his sermon at the gathering also reminded the Muslims in Indonesia of religious tolerance.

The Muslims in Indonesia, according to Habib Munzir, have to get used to living in peace and harmony with the people of different faith.

In Bandung, West Java, religious leaders on Monday also declared peace following violent acts triggered by religious issues in the country.

The declaration was read out directly by the chairman of the West Java chapter of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, KH Hafidz Utsman, before hundreds of community members from different religions attending the event.

In the declaration they expressed concern over the conflict between Ahmadiyah Islamic sect members and a mob in Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Banten, recently.

They also expressed determination to build inter-religious harmony especially in West Java and settle any inter-religious problem through a dialog.

Not only in West Java, but also in Gunung Kidul district, Yogyakarta, tens of people grouped in Gunung Kidul Interfaith Forum also staged a walking-backwards action and joint prayers recently to call for peace under the slogan of "Unity in Diversity."

"The walking-backwards action is the symbol of our concern over the emergence of various violent acts in the name of religion in this country," the interfaith forum`s coordinator Aminudin Azis said.

He said the bloody violence triggered by religious issues in the country and the burning of several houses of worship recently were truly heartbreaking.

According to him, the second precept of Just and Civilized Humanity in the state philosophy of Pancasila seemed to have no real sense of the words.

Then in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon, young artists and men of letters of Maluku origin voiced "The Peaceful Sound from the East for Indonesia" recently as part of their solidarity against relentless violence in the country.

Such a humanitarian activity at the World Peace Gong monument area was initiated jointly by music groups Bengkel Seni Embun, Ambon Bergerak, Komunitas Manis Pait, and Kalesang Maluku social group.

Hundreds of Ambon residents from various corners of the city packed the monument area to participate in the event where the singers of Maluku origin sang their songs.

"The songs we sing can motivate all of us as the young people of Maluku and of Indonesia to continue to march forwards and maintain peace and security in our country," said a vocalist of Semang band group, Marioni Serhalawan.

"We oppose all kinds of violent acts in the name of any religion in this country," Rudi Fofid said.

After he read out the resolution, children`s choir from Amahusu village came to the stage and chanted the song, "Children of Maluku Love Peace."

Yet they realized that the real peace is not simply the absence of conflict, violence, or any artificial state the world has to offer. Rather it is the deep, abiding peace only the "Prince of Peace" can bring to the heart.

Editor: Priyambodo

Maluku Set to Hold World Youth Assembly 2011

Antara News, Fri, February 04 2011

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Maluku`s Regional Executive Council of the Indonesian Youth National Committee (KNPI) is ready to hold the world assembly of youth scheduled on February 27 and 28, 2011, chairman of KNPI Maluku, Zaharuddin Latuconsina, said here, Friday.

He said preparations are being made for the success of the meeting.

"We are completing the technical matters relating to the preparation in order to make the international event a big success," he noted.

Zaharuddin explained, delegates from 120 countries are scheduled to attend the meeting so that Maluku is determined to be a successful host, both in terms of implementation as well as declarations which are needed for coaching the youth.

The Central Executive Council`s Chairman of the Indonesian Youth National Committee, Ahmad Doli Kurnia, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the World Youth said, Maluku has been designated as the site of the 34th World Peace.

The decision was made related to holding the World Peace Day in Ambon on November 25, 2009 which was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Zaharuddin noted, the World Youth Organization agreed to choose Maluku as host because the region is in post-conflict phase in 1999 that its handling of social institutions to promote local culture.

"The `Pela and Gandong" culture is the glue of brothers life as a heritage which should be preserved and promoted to the international world, then became a model of social life with a plurality of society and religion," he said.

Zaharuddin said, the brotherly ties between the Batumerah village people (Muslim majority) and Passo (Christians) will also be shown to the participants in the World Youth meeting.

"We will demonstrate to the international world the brothers who prior to social conflict became the target of study and social researchers, both within and outside the country that the conflict could not destroy the heritage," he said.

The meeting is scheduled to produce a declaration to promote peace which will be distributed internationally.

"So, the world youth will witness the presence of living brothers, then capture the strategic input in order to issue the Declaration of Maluku which speaks of world peace," Zaharuddin hoped.

He added, the meeting will also discuss the world youth program to address global warming which has an increasing impact on the climate and life on earth.

Editor: AA Ariwibowo

Santa Claus

The Jakarta Post, Antara, Ambon, Maluku | Tue, 12/07/2010

Santa Claus: Some people dressed like Santa Claus and Black Pete wave their hands in Ambon, Maluku on Monday. Dozens of these Santa Claus came into the town last week to distribute gifts to kids as a part of Christmas celebration.  (Antara/Jimmy Ayal)

Nine moluccans join Garuda`s family trip to Holland

Antara News, Sunday, October 17, 2010 22:15 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Nine people from Maluku joined a Family Trip program sponsored by national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to the Netherlands from October 17 to 20, 2010.

"The nine people from Maluku who joined the Family Trip left for the Netherlands via Jakarta on Sunday," Ambon branch of Garuda Indonesia marketing spokesman Nazrudin said here on Sunday morning.

Nazrudin said Garuda provided representatives from culture and tourism office, a Garuda partner company, and media in Maluku with nine free tickets for the Family Trip to the Netherlands.

"But unfortunately Maluku Culture and Tourism Office chairperson Florence Sahusilawane does not get a free ticket to Holland because she is at present in a training program," Nazrudin said.

Nazruddin said Garuda Indonesia organized the Family Trip program to the Netherlands for the nine participants to promote Maluku tourism potentials to West European tourists.

"Following the reopening of Garuda`s Jakarta-Amsterdam and Jakarta-Ambon routes in June this year, the Family Trip program is expected to contribute to tourism development in Indonesia in general and Maluku in particular," Nazrudin said.

Therefore he hoped the invited Molucans would use the opportunity while in the Netherlands to promote Maluku tourism potentials as well as convincing Dutch citizens of Maluku origin that the Indonesian province is absolutely safe for visitors.

"The Garuda Indonesia flight schedule is made flexible to enable the Family Trip participants to make every effort to familiarize Maluku tourism as optimally as possible to West European tourists," Nazrudin said..

President: Good relations imply mutual respect

Antara News, Thursday, October 7, 2010 18:28 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Thursday that good relations between countries also implied the upholding of mutual respect and appreciation by the two sides.

Speaking before opening a limited cabinet meeting on political, security and legal affairs, the President said mutual respect in bilateral relations also included mutual respect between the leaders of the countries concerned.

He made the statement in connection with his decision to cancel his scheduled visit to the Netherlands on Wednesday.

"Relations between nations are not only about mutual interest or signing memorandums of understanding but also about mutual respect between the nations and their leaders involved," he said.

Although Indonesia always wanted to build good relations with other countries, including the Netherlands, it could not but show firmness in the face of an impending incident that had the potential of causing political complications.

"So, I decided to postpone (the visit) while observing further developments," he said.

The President also questioned the fact that the court in The Hague had handled the lawsuit on human rights violation and the related demand for the arrest of the Indonesian president with unusual expediency and at the same time as his expected arrival in the country.

"The lawsuit was filed on October 4 and the court decided to open the session on the case on October 5. I think that was the fastest court procedure in the world, the law suit was filed yesterday and processed the day after," he said.

After receiving information from Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Indonesian ambassador to the Netherlands JE Habibie and inputs from Vice President Boediono and several ministers concerned (regarding the case), President Yudhoyono on

October 5,2010 decided to postpone his planned state visit to the Netherlands.

He said he could understand the Dutch government`s statement that it could not interfere in court proceedings. However, there remained the question why it was necessary for the court to hear the case during or in conjunction with his planned visit in the Netherlands.

"This was clearly a wrong signal. The staging of the court session was against ethics and norms in relations between nations," he said.

President Yudhoyono then recalled the visit of Queen Beatrix in Indonesia in 2005 when she was given a warm and unfettered welcome as was Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende when he came to Indonesia in 2006.

"It was very difficult for me to understand that I should be greeted with a court session upon my arrival there," he said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the Dutch trial, which was held when he was due to be flying to the Netherlands, was subject to the "fastest court hearing delay in the world." (EPA Photo/Bagus Indahono)

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Maluku artist team undeterred by canceled President`s Holland trip

Antara News, Wednesday, October 6, 2010 17:45 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The cancelation of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s trip to the Netherlands does not deter a Maluku artist team from going to the country.

Pasar Malam Indonesia 2010, The Hague - April 2010

Spokesperson of culture and art affairs at Maluku Culture and Tourism Office Ms An Likko said here on Wednesday that the art team from the province would perform at Indonesian Culture Performance in the Netherlands on October 7, 2010.

"After listening to President Yudhoyono`s statement on TV about the crenelation of his trip to the Netherlands, I immediately contacted the artist team coordinator Semmy Toisutta and he said the team was undeterred by the cancelation," Likko said.

She said the artist team from Maluku was scheduled to perform in the Netherlands to grace a banquet to be hosted by Queen Beatrix for President Yudhoyono.

"The Maluku artist team with the similar teams from Aceh and East Nusa Tenggara provinces had undergone special training in Jakarta since September 30, 2010 to perform in the Netherlands," Likko said.

She added that the team of six has arrived in the Netherlands to perform Lenso, Terine Mamae, and Orlapeip dances to entertain Dutch people, especially of Maluku origin in the country.

In April this year the Indonesian Embassy in the Netherlands organized an Indonesia Fair which was also graced by an artist team from Maluku.

Chief of Maluku`s Cultural Park Semmy Toisutta said the artist team at the time was made up of a Hawaiian music band and a number of traditional dancers to highlight the Indonesia Fair early April this year.

He said the artist team at the time presented Maluku songs accompanied by Hawaiian music, and Maluku traditional dances, namely Tari Lenso, Pinemou, Pataheri, Sasi Laut, Kabaressy, Mahina Arika, and two other contemporary dances produced by the Maluku Cultural Park to accompany Banda Neira and Panggayo songs.

Besides highlighting the Indonesia Fair which lasted from April 1-5, 2010, the artist team from Maluku also performed in five major cities in the Netherlands.

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Maluku artist team arrives in Holland to perform