Indonesia Looks to an ‘Asian Century’ With China

Jakarta Globe, Vita A.D. Busyra, May 28, 2014

Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, second from right, and
 Chinese President Xi Jinping — accompanied by their wives — shake hands
 during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta in this file photo taken
 on Oct. 2, 2013. Xi’s stop in Jakarta is part of his first official trip across Southeast
Asia. (AFP Photo/Bay Ismoyo)

Jakarta. The Indonesian-Chinese Friendship Association, or PPIT, has officially inaugurated its new 2014-2016 board of supervisors, trustees and advisory council, as it seeks to continue improving the bilateral relations between the two countries in the social, economic and cultural sectors.

PPIT chairman Bondan Gunawan, who served as the Indonesian state secretary in 2000, said on Saturday that Indonesia and China had “countless commonalities” and the need to enhance strategic cooperation should be targeted “not only by strengthening the bilateral relationship, but also increasing the compactness through education, art and culture, sports and humanitarian collaboration.”

“With the appointment of new PPIT board members, coming from various backgrounds and walks of life, we would like to show that Indonesian-Chinese have a strong feeling for Indonesia and a spirit to nurture better relations and cooperation between the two countries,” he told the Jakarta Globe.

“They also have the competence as well as alacrity to mingle with other Indonesians to build a better and greater nation in the future.”

Bondan said several programs were planned by the association, including a film festival in Beijing, and Indonesian-Chinese student exchange program, and the joint production of traditional Chinese medicine.

Sinta Nuriyah, the widow of the late former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid — who ended a decades-long restriction on the practice of Chinese traditions and observations of Chinese holidays imposed by the strongman Suharto — also attended the inauguration and delivered a short remark stating her full support for the association.

Xiao Yiwu, the counselor for cultural affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta, underscored the importance of sustainable comprehensive strategic partnerships.

“President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono once said that both countries must continuously boost more partnerships in economics, politics, trade and culture as well as increasing people-to-people communication,” he said.

Last year, bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to $52.45 billion, with the value expected to top $ 80 billion by 2015. Direct investment by China in Indonesia amounted to $292.1 billion last year, a dramatic increase from $141 billion the previous year.

Esti Andayani, the Foreign Ministry’s director general for information and public diplomacy, pledged support for the PPIT’s programs.

“We’ve entered what we call the ‘Asian Century,’ in which all countries in Asia, including Indonesia and China, play a pivotal role at the regional and global levels,” Esti said. “And with both countries’ sharing the same vision and perception on, for example, climate change, food security, energy and global financial institution reformation, we’ve come to agree to increase cooperation and coordination, while upholding the commitment to peace, stability and prosperity for the region and on the international stage.”

National camp

The Jakarta Post, Antara, Pidie, Aceh | Tue, 11/30/2010

National camp: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (second right) accompanied by First Lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono (right), together with Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf (left) talk with scout participants in the opening of Wirakarya national camp at Seulawah Scout Camp in Pidie, Aceh on Tuesday. The camp will run from Nov. 29 until Dec. 6 with 8,600 participants. (Antara/Ampelsa)

Making a Date With an Indonesian Debate

The Jakarta Globe, Tasa Nugraza Barley

At the non-profit organization Anomali, high school and university students are trained in the English language first before they participate in the debates. (Photo courtesy of Anomali)

Not many people believe that debate can change the world. But that’s exactly what a group of young Indonesians are attempting to do.

Thirty-year-old Reggy Hasibuan founded Anomali, a nonprofit organization, with some friends in March 2003. They had been active debaters here and overseas for some years and felt like they should be sharing their skills with young Indonesians.

Reggy, who studied international relations at Bandung’s Parahyangan University, said debating had taught him to think critically.

“But it’s more than just that. Debating also taught me how to carry an argument, create a speech and put forward a case,” he said.

“Our goal is very simple, and that is to teach Indonesia’s high school and university students as much as possible about debating and encourage them to have their own English debating clubs,” Reggy added.

Riza Kuddah, 25, is an English teacher at a university in Surabaya, East Java, who also volunteers for the organization.

Riza outlined what he said were the five key reasons debating could benefit young people. He said that debating nurtured creative thinking, forced people to research topics, was an effective way to practice English, could be a good medium to make new friends and helped people learn how to deal with problems from a different perspective.

“Today’s young people are mostly passive. They just wait,” he said.

According to Riza, debating requires students to be proactive and reactive in addressing problems.

“A good debater has to be active once he or she is presented with a problem.”

Ruth Gracia Nainggolan, 16, a high school student from Jakarta, said that Anomali had motivated him to become a better debater.

“Being a debater is actually so much fun. You can express whatever you think about a problem that you have,” Ruth said.

“The best part is when you have to defend your opinion and always be able to build up good arguments,” she added.

Riza said, “It’s very important that a debater uses many angles in looking at a problem, that’s so essential.”

Not only is English the official language in debating, but according to Riza, only by using English can Indonesian students explore the world. “English has always been our main challenge, as there are still many young Indonesians who lack English proficiency,” he said.

For that reason, Anomali drills its students with lessons in the English language before they join the debates.

“But we don’t expect our students to speak perfect English. As long as they can say something pretty clearly in English, that’s fine,” Reggy said.

“We always tell our students not to worry about grammar, we want them to focus on conversational skills instead,” Riza added.

Anomali currently has two youth empowerment centers, located in Malang, East Java, and Bandung.

“But they’re not like meeting halls or anything, but at least we have a place for the volunteers and officers to brainstorm and discuss things,” Reggy said.

Anomali is run by 20 main members and five full-time officers. So far, Anomali has helped five schools in Malang, Surabaya, Bandung, Jakarta and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan establish their own English debating clubs.

In addition to the debating clubs, Anomali is trying to spread its wings by launching two other programs that focus on the urban environment and interfaith dialog at its center in Malang.

“I think the most interesting topic for everyone is politics. The debating can become quite heated when talking about politics,” Riza said.

On the flip side, students steer clear of the environment.

“That’s because the environment is a very complicated issue so most people try to avoid it,” he said.

Anomali:

Bandung
Anomali West Java
Jl. Tugu Asri II C-39 Padasuka
Bandung 40192

Malang
Anomali East Java
Jl. Semarang 12
Malang 65145

www.anomali.or.id
debatergila@anomali.or.id

Indonesians, Australians exchange visa program

Lilian Budianto, The Jakarta post, Jakarta | Fri, 12/19/2008 10:22 AM  

Young Indonesian university graduates could from next year be allowed to apply for a one-year Australian work and holiday visa, pending an agreement by both governments, an Australian Embassy official said Thursday. 

Only applicants aged 18-30 would be eligible, and Australian youths would also be extended the same privileges in Indonesia. 

Australian Embassy spokeswoman Jenny Dee said the reciprocal work and holiday visa would take effect as soon as the relevant administrative arrangements by each country had been finalized. 

"The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries has yet to be confirmed but is expected to take place in the near future," she said. 

The new visa differs from a working holiday visa because it requires each applicant to obtain the support of the government, hold or be studying for a tertiary qualification, and have a good grasp of the language of the host country. 

"This visa arrangement will allow young people from both countries to experience living in different countries," Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. 

Besides Indonesia, a number of other countries also have similar work and holiday visa arrangements with Australia, including the United States, Bangladesh, Chile, Turkey and Thailand. 

Both governments have proposed an annual quota of 100 work and holiday visas that will be reviewed annually. 

The visa initiative, first announced back in August, was on the agenda during the ninth ministerial meeting between the two countries in Canberra on Nov. 12. 

There are around 16,000 Indonesians studying in Australia at present, and around 300,000 Australian tourists visit Indonesia each year. 

Around 16,000 Australians currently live in Indonesia.

Indonesian student makes magic in Camden

Sunanda Creagh, The Sydney Morning Herald, November 11, 2008 - 1:48PM 

If the execution of the Bali bombers has you worried about reprisal attacks on Australians in Indonesia, spare a thought for Indonesian exchange student Mohammed Fauzi. 

"Before I came to Australia, I was a little bit afraid. I thought of the Bali bombing and how so many Australians were victims," said Mr Fauzi, a student of English who has been teaching Bahasa Indonesia to children at the Macarthur Anglican School. "I was a bit afraid that maybe I would be attacked." 

The Muslim Indonesian man is here on the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program and has been billeted in Camden - the place where a vocal minority recently fought an Islamic society's proposed school because, as one resident put it: "My kids don't speak Muslim." 

Mr Fauzi is among 18 Indonesian participants in the exchange program, which has been sending Indonesians to Australia and Australians to Indonesia for 26 years. This year's batch of Indonesians arrived at a time when their country was in the news for all the wrong reasons but Mr Fauzi says he has been welcomed in Camden. 

"The students are very responsive and are happy I am here. Not only the students but the teachers are very friendly and gave me a warm welcome," Mr Fauzi said. 

That's not to say he hasn't fielded some tough questions from his students about the Bali bombers Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra. 

"I told them that not all of Indonesian society agrees with what they did and I include myself in the number of people who don't like what happened. I also feel like, 'Why did this happen to Indonesia?'" he said. 

"I just tried to explain that there is fanatical Islam and then there is very different Islam. Basically, Islam hates violence. Of course, there are some Muslims who do not know better." 

Mr Fauzi, a self-taught illusionist, has found that nothing bridges the cultural divide like a disappearing-reappearing coin or scarf, and has been known to try out a few magic tricks in class. 

Ben Davis, a teacher at Macarthur Anglican School, said the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program allowed some of his students to meet an Indonesian person for the first time. 

"Being a young guy and a magician, he's really lively and he's really helped in breaking down a few stereotypes," Mr Davis said. "His English is really good and he's been willing to give anything a go. It's been really good for the students of the school." 

Harry Wicaksana, 23, a Balinese man who has joined Mr Fauzi on exchange in Australia hopes that the program "will bring more understanding between Australia and Indonesia". 

"We also want to spread the spirit that Indonesia is a peaceful nation and Muslims should not be associated with terrorism just because some people do it," he said. 

The 18 Indonesian students have now been billeted in rural towns for the remaining part of their time in Australia and will then escort 18 Australians to Indonesia.

RI, Australia run youth exchange in Lombok

Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara

Despite the ups and downs in diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Australia, young people from both countries have been finding success as ambassadors when they venture abroad.

At least 18 Australian and 18 Indonesian youth are participating in the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP) this year.

Australian participants moved in with host families in Sigerongan village in West Lombok on Dec. 17, and would stay two months, said AIYEP's Australian coordinator Edward Russell.

"We are so happy and so surprised to find hundreds of local residents welcome us. At first I thought we would be greeted by only a dozens residents here," said Russell on Sunday.

"We have had no problems staying here. The local residents are so kind. I have tried the local food, like pelecing kangkung -- boiled-water spinach with traditional chili sauce. That's very hot but so delicious," said participant Janet Courtis.

During their stay AIYEP participants plan to set up programs focused on education, environmental awareness and sport and youth activities.

"We have also arranged futsal and badminton games here," said the AIYEP's Indonesia coordinator, Lutfi Nur Rosyidi.

Lufti said AIYEP participants would help build badminton courts and teach English to elementary students and local residents.

"(And) we have explained to residents that we do not want to set up physical programs only, but we also want to encourage people here to take care of their environment," Edward added.

In October, Indonesian youth visited Australia for two months, splitting the time between Melbourne and Mildura, a small town about six hours from Melbourne. Participants lived like families with their host parents, said Lufti.

AIYEP was first introduced by the Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministries and the Indonesian Sport and Youth Ministry in 1981.

"The program is aimed at providing participants with an understanding of Indonesian and Australian ways of life," said AIYEP spokesman Abdul.

The head of Sigerongan village, Mustiadi, said he was happy to welcome AIYEP participants to his village.

"Residents here are also happy because they can have the experience of cultural exchange. We are so proud that our village has been chosen by the government to join this program," Mustiadi said.

Edwards said cultural exchange was at the heart of the program.

"By following this program, we know that Australians and Indonesians can live together in harmony," Edwards said.