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6 THE JAPAN TIMES SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2009 (3)

Indonesia independence day

Indonesia’s strength lies in its diversityDr. Jusuf AnwarAMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC

OF INDONESIA FOR JAPAN

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Greetings and salutations toreaders of The Japan Times.On this, the 64thanniversary ofthe indepen-dence of the Re-public of Indo-nesia, it givesme great plea-sure to be ableto address youtoday, and to invite you all tojoin Indonesian citizens in Ja-pan and throughout the worldin celebration of our nationalday.

Many readers will no doubthave visited Indonesia in thepast and I would like to takethis opportunity to outlinesome of the changes we haveseen in recent months, andfor those who have yet to visitus in Indonesia, I would liketo tell you why you reallyshould come and see a littlepiece of paradise in the very

near future.First and foremost, as you

may know, Indonesia has justcompleted legislative andpresidential elections. Sincetransitioning to democracy,the Indonesian people havepassionately embraced theelectoral process, and theserecent elections saw an ex-cellent voter turnout, andpeaceful and orderly cam-paigning, voting and votecount. This proves that in In-donesia ethnic, cultural andreligious diversity is no bar-rier to a fully functioning de-mocracy, and that ordinaryIndonesians have genuinefaith in the political and eco-nomic reforms of recentyears, and are more thanwilling to play their part inthe political system.

In regard to the financialcrisis that is on all our minds,thanks to determined andcarefully implemented mi-cro- and macroeconomic pol-icies over the past four years,Indonesia has been well

placed to weather the recenteconomic turmoil that hasseen some far larger econo-mies falter and fail. A pro-ac-tive government response tothe economic crisis has alsoseen the financial sector inIndonesia stabilized, and realsector growth stimulatedthrough job creation and thepromotion of small-scalebusinesses, and entrepre-neurship in general. All ofthis has, in turn, helped boostpurchasing power for theaverage Indonesian andmaintained strong privateconsumption that has keptthe economy turning.

As a result of the steps tak-en by the Indonesian govern-ment, the country’s economyhas proven its resilience byposting 6.1 percent growth in2008 and 4.2 percent growth inthe first semester of 2009. In2008, Indonesia attracted$14.87 billion in foreign in-vestment — a clear indica-tion of the international com-munity’s faith in its economic

course — and exports grew to$139 billion as earlier infra-structure and human re-source investments began topay dividends. Indonesia’sdebt to gross domestic prod-uct ratio dropped from 89 per-cent in 2000 to 33 percent in2008, showing that the coun-try’s dependence on loans fordriving the economy has beenreduced, and the broadestmeasure of the impact of debt— the ratio of total govern-ment debt to total economicoutput or GDP — has fallenfrom 100 percent in 1999 to40.8 percent in 2006 and is ex-pected to decline further to 30percent to 35 percent by 2009.

In addition, Indonesia’scompetitiveness ranking im-proved nine places, accordingto the International Institutefor Management Develop-ment’s World Competitive-ness Yearbook, showing that itis well placed to continue toride out the global economicstorm and play an importantrole in the recovery of the re-

gion’s economy.At the same time, unfortu-

nately, recent events haveshown us that Indonesia —like all other countries in thismodern world of ours — is notimmune to the threat of ter-rorism. The bombings of theRitz Carlton and JW Marriothotels in Jakarta will not de-ter democracy in Indonesia,and recent actions by the gov-ernment in response to thoseattacks have shown us thatIndonesia will use the fullpower of the law and its secu-rity forces to counter suchthreats. There were no politi-cal ties to the result of theelection in regard to theseacts and the widespread pub-lic support for antiterrormeasures shows the margin-alization of these terrorist el-ements. In addition, overseastourists continue to chooseIndonesia and there is no in-dication that foreign businessconfidence has been affectedin any way.

Regular readers will nodoubt be aware that the past 18months have been an eventfultime for Indonesia and Japanrelations. Last year, we cele-brated 50 years of warm andfriendly diplomatic relationswith a variety of events in Ja-pan and Indonesia, and welook forward to many, manymore years of close relationsand cooperation. The variousactivities, held at governmen-tal, as well as at public andpeople-to-people levels, dem-onstrate that our close, andmutually beneficial trade andeconomic ties are comple-mented by a long history of so-cial and cultural interaction.Examples of the latter includethe ‘‘Javarism’’ cultural festi-val held by the Indonesiancommunity in Japan in 2008,and the Festival of Life creat-ed by noted Japanese designerKansai Yamamoto in Denpa-sar, Indonesia, this May. Aneven better example of thelinking of economic and socialties can bee seen in the recentarrival in Japan of Indonesiannurses and caregivers to as-sist in Japanese hospitals andinstitutions, and of the in-creasingly broad and two-waytraffic in tourism between Ja-pan and Indonesia.

This brings me neatly to atopic about which I — and Ibelieve all Indonesians — are

justifiably proud. Indonesia,an archipelago of more than17,500 islands scatteredacross both sides of the equa-tor, is one of the most biodiv-erse countries on Earth. Thegovernment and people of In-donesia consider the rich flo-ra and fauna of this ecosys-tem to be a national treasure,and a paradise for all the peo-ple of the world to enjoy, andwe look forward to welcom-ing visitors from Japan andaround the world to come andexperience Indonesian hospi-tality and the wonders ofthese islands for themselves.

For those of us living in amajor metropolis like Tokyo,the lure of the sunsets andbeaches of Bali is hard to re-sist, particularly in the hotsummer months we are expe-riencing. But I truly feel thatit is no exaggeration to saythat Indonesia offers some-thing for everyone: from theworld-renowned diving of Su-lawesi to the hustle and bus-tle of cities like Jakarta andYogyakarta; from the an-cient mystery of Borobudurto the contemporary artsscene of Ubud or the fear-some ‘‘dragons’’ of Komodoisland (recently chosen as afinalist for one of the new sev-en wonders of the naturalworld), everyone can findtheir personal Shangri-La inIndonesia.

In addition, the variouscultural influences that haveshaped Indonesia over thecenturies, together with thegreat variety of produce andspices for which Indonesia isworld renowned, provide In-donesian chefs with a fantas-tic palette of flavors fromwhich to work. And just likeJapan, each and every regionof Indonesia has its special-ties and popular favorites, sojust as there are new sightsand sounds to be found ineach new destination you vis-it, so too are there deliciousand unique new tastes andaromas for you to sample ev-erywhere you go.

One tourism event in par-ticular that I would like tomention is the Second JogjaInternational Heritage Walkto be held Nov. 14-15 to pro-mote awareness of the impor-tance of greener environ-ments, healthy lifestyles andhistorical sites. The two-daywalk will incorporate naturewalks, conservation activi-ties and explanations of Ja-

vanese culture, including thewell-known temples of Boro-budur and Prambanan.

Given the geography of theIndonesian archipelago, it isonly natural that the vast ma-jority of Indonesians live inclose contact with the naturalenvironment and are only tooaware of its great beauty andfearsome power, but also itsincredible fragility. As the in-creasing pace of industrialdevelopment takes an evengreater toll on our planet, wein Indonesia can clearly seethat now is the time for dras-tic action to halt and reversethe adverse effects of human-kind’s modern lifestyles.

Pollution, deforestation,erosion and illegal logging allendanger the biodiversity ofIndonesia, and the govern-ment of H.E. President SusiloBambang Yudhoyono is de-termined to confront and re-solve these threats in a man-ner that will provide long-term solutions rather thanshort-term, stopgap mea-CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Natural spectacle: The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covers some 800 sq. km in the center of East Java. It is the largestvolcanic region in the province and home to 3,676-meter Mount Semeru. MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

World Heritage site: Borobudur, a Mahayana Buddhist templein Central Java, dates back to the eighth and ninth centuries.Its nine-terrace structure is a schematized representation ofthe transition toward nirvana.

Housewarming: Rambu Tuka, a ceremony to express gratitude to God, is held in Tana Toraja,South Sulawesi, as a blessing for the rehabilitation of Tongkonan, the traditional houses of Toraja.

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Indonesia independence day

Strength in diversity

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

sures. This thinking is beingincorporated into policy re-garding numerous sectors andindustries in Indonesia, fromforestry and energy explora-tion to tourism and infrastruc-ture development, and I ampleased to note that, in addi-tion to utilizing overseas tech-nological expertise, a greatdeal of homegrown Indone-sian know-how and inventive-ness is being applied in this re-gard.

To be sure, there are chal-lenges ahead for Indonesiaand for us all. But the greatbiodiversity of Indonesia ismatched by great ethnic di-versity, with some 30 distinct

ethnic groups speaking morethan 300 different languagesall calling it home, and in thisdiversity lies our greateststrength. Each and every dif-ferent group brings uniqueskills, perspectives and under-standing to the greater whole,and as we stand at the dawn ofa new century, I am confidentthat we are well placed toovercome all obstacles andseize all opportunities toachieve our ultimate goals.

Why not come and see thisgreat diversity for yourself,experience the hospitality andbreathtaking scenery that somany people are talkingabout, and get a taste of Indo-nesia in 2009.

Nationwide campaign to protectecosystem, biodiversity treasuresAt its 83rd plenary meeting,the General Assembly of theUnited Nations declared 2010the ‘‘International Year of Bio-diversity (IYB),’’ and encour-aged member states to use itto increase awareness of theimportance of biodiversityand environmental issues ingeneral. The General Assem-bly’s drive to draw attention tothe planet’s biodiversitycomes at a time when as indi-vidual societies and membersof the global community weare becoming more and moreaware of the alarming threatsto the world’s delicate ecosys-tems, and also the need to val-ue and protect the biodiversitythat we have for so long takenfor granted.

Indonesia, an archipelagoof more than 17,500 islandsscattered across both sides ofthe equator, is one of the mostbiodiverse countries on Earth.Although it covers only 1.3 per-cent of the word’s total area, itis home to 10 percent of theplanet’s flowering plant spe-cies, 12 percent of its mammalspecies, 16 percent of its rep-tile and amphibian species, 17percent of its bird species and25 percent of its marine lifespecies.

The government and peopleof Indonesia consider this eco-system to be a national trea-sure, and a paradise for all thepeople of the world to enjoy,but as the increasing pace ofindustrial development takesan even greater toll, we recog-nize that now is the time fordrastic action. Pollution, de-forestation, erosion and illegallogging all endanger the biodi-versity of Indonesia, and thegovernment of H.E. PresidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono isdetermined to confront and re-solve these threats in a man-ner that will provide long-term solutions.

One of the most threatenedof Indonesia’s ecosystems itits forests, and in the past 10years considerable challengeshave demanded that Indone-sia refocus and reorient its for-estry policies. In this regard,the forestry sector has deter-mined five priorities: (1) com-bating illegal logging and theassociated illegal timbertrade; (2) forestry sector re-structuring via timber planta-tion and industry reorganiza-tion; (3) forest rehabilitationand conservation; (4)strengthening the economiesof local communities; and (5)

protecting forest areas.Forestry issues cannot be

separated from the larger is-sue of national development,however, and forestry is notindependent from other devel-opment sectors such as agri-culture, infrastructure (in-cluding settlement and publicworks) and industry. Theneeds of local communitiesand national developmentmust be incorporated into allplanning if truly long-term so-lutions are to be achieved.

At the forefront of this is amajor reforestation and forestmanagement program. Datapublished using satellite im-agery gathered by Wagenin-gen University in the Nether-lands and digital analysis offorest cover by South DakotaState University in the UnitedStates shows that since 2000the level of deforestation hasbeen reduced dramaticallythanks to the rapid incorpora-tion of the above priorities ingovernment policy.

In addition to halting thedegradation of forests, thegovernment has embarked onseveral nationwide tree-plant-ing programs. The first ofthese marked the convening ofthe U.N. Climate Change Con-

ference 2007 in Bali and waslaunched by President Yudho-yono. The program aimed toplant 79 million trees in oneday, but the organizers werehappy to report that this figurewas surpassed by nearly 10million. A similar program in2008 was equally successful,with 109 million new treesplanted.

Indonesia’s first lady, AniYudhoyono, has also been atthe forefront of the reforesta-tion drive, and in recognitionof this won an award from theU.N. Environment Programfor her efforts in encouragingIndonesian women to planttrees. A planting program in2008 aiming to plant 10 milliontrees exceeded its goal by 4million and this year anotherdrive was launched to plantfruit trees. At the same time,in order to broaden and popu-larize the planting programs,Nov. 28 was declared ‘‘Nation-al Planting Day’’ by the presi-dent and a ‘‘One Person, OneTree’’ program, in which all ofIndonesia’s 230 million citi-zens are encouraged to plant atree, was established.

Another major concern forIndonesia as an archipelago is

the protection of its vast oceanresources and coastline. TheIndonesian government host-ed the World Ocean Confer-ence in Manado on May 11-15,and the conference adoptedthe Manado Ocean Declara-tion in which participantsagreed to strive to achievelong-term conservation, man-agement and sustainable useof marine life resources, andcoastal habitats through theapplication of precautionaryand ecosystem approaches.The conference stressed theneed for national strategiesfor sustainable managementof coastal and marine ecosys-tems as protective and pro-ductive buffer zones that havesignificant potential to ad-dress the adverse effects ofclimate change.

Indonesia was proud to hostthe U.N. Climate Conferenceand the World Ocean Confer-ence, and hopes to play a lead-ing role in finding viable solu-tions to environmental threatsin the region and globally. Inan island nation that spans twohemispheres, the fragility ofbiodiversity — and the threatsto it — are glaringly obvious,and the government and peo-ple of Indonesia are only tooaware of the great responsibil-ity they have to pass on thisparadise to future genera-tions.

A ‘Little Indonesia in Japan’

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia is proud to invite you tothe second ‘‘Little Indonesia in Japan’’ festival from Aug. 25 to 27.

Come and join us for a taste of Indonesia right here in Japan,with crafts, recitals, performances, batik painting and ‘‘tenun’’weaving demonstrations, jewelry exhibitions and shadow plays,and of course traditional Indonesian foods for you to sample.

The festival will be held at The ASEAN-Nihon Centre inOnarimon (take Exit A4 from the Mita Line’s Onarimon Station);doors are open from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Come and join us, welook forward to seeing you.

For more information, please e-mail fitratokyo@yahoo.com orcall (03) 3441-4201, Ext. 322 or 336.

For the future: Children of Ungasan Elementary School and members of the Tamioka KaburaRotary Club from Gunma Prefecture take part in a program to plant 300 mangrove rhizophoraapiculata trees at Tengkulung Beach, Tanjung Benoa, Bali.

Fragile ecosystem: Indonesia is home to one-third of the world’s corals, or some 85,000 sq.km. Shown here are coral reefs on Ambon Island (above) and Sangalaki Island, EastKalimantan (below). MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Party time: Last year’s ‘‘Little Indonesia in Japan’’ atShinjuku Park Tower in Tokyo