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

Government Blames Wind for Garbage Piles of Bali’s Beaches

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran | April 06, 2011

A scavenger picking through trash at Bali's Kuta Beach. Culture and
Tourism Minister Jero Wacik has blamed the terrible condition of many
of Bali’s famed beaches, including Kuta, on the wind and defended the
resort island against international criticism. (JG Photo/J.P. Christo)

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Indonesia’s Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik has blamed the terrible condition of many of Bali’s famed beaches, including Kuta, on the wind.

The second-term minister, who has in the past faced criticism from the tourism industry about his ineffectiveness, said strong winds blew the garbage, dirt and other detritus onto the beach from the ocean.

He said a task force was cleaning the beaches.

Jero, himself from Bali, also defended the resort island against a scathing article in Time magazine, which was titled “Holidays in Hell: Bali’s Ongoing Woes.”

In the article, writer Andrew Marshall didn’t hold back.

“Rivers swell and flush their trash and frothing human waste into the sea off Kuta Beach, the island’s most famous tourist attraction, where bacteria bloom and the water turns muddy with dead plankton.”

He said skin infections caused by spending just 30 minutes in the ocean was just one of Bali’s problems: “water shortages, rolling blackouts, uncollected trash, overflowing sewage-treatment plants and traffic so bad that parts of the island resemble Indonesia’s gridlocked capital Jakarta.

“And don’t forget crime. In January, amid a spate of violent robberies against foreigners, Bali police chief Hadiatmoko reportedly ordered his officers to shoot criminals on sight. You’ve heard of the Julia Roberts movie Eat Pray Love, which was partly filmed in Bali? Now get ready for its grim sequel: Eat Pray Duck.”

Jero said the article exaggerated the problems and “in the end, [the tourists] come back.”

He said other than a decline in tourists from disaster-struck Japan, tourist numbers were holding at 7,000 visitors per day.

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Bali drowning in sewage and 'slowly committing suicide', says Time magazine

South Sulawesi's Parepare exploring marine tourism

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 02/09/2011

Parepare administration in South Sulawesi says it plans to explore the marine tourism potential of the Tonrangeng area in Bacukiki Barat.

Parepare Youth and Sports Affairs and Tourism Agency chief Muhlis Salam said the area could to have a similar success to the widely popular Bunaken National Park marine tourism site in North Sulawesi.

“This is a favorite holiday activity for local and foreign tourists,” Muhlis said Wednesday, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

He said that the administration had asked for a team of researchers from Hasanuddin University (Makassar) to study the area’s tourism potential.

According to preliminary research conducted by the team, the Tonrangeng area is home to 135 fish species.

Muhlis said the Tonrangeng area was next to Parepare, and could thus become an alternative getaway destination for city dwellers.

Bangka has abundant marine tourism, historical attractions

Antara News, Otniel Tamindael, Saturday, October 16, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bangka island in Bangka-Belitung (Babel) province undeniably has marine tourism and historical attractions in abundance.

Having lush tropical forests and surrounded by crystal clear sea with white sandy beaches, Bangka island is another tourism destination in Indonesia.

After visitors have set foot on the pristine, beautiful beaches such as Parai, Pasir Padi, Sampur, and Matras beaches, returning to their hotels and accommodations will be a hard thing to do.

It is because of these abundant marine tourism and historical attractions that the Pangkalpinang city government is currently making every effort to develop them for both domestic and foreign tourists.

"Besides marine tourism, historical attractions also have a great potential to attract and increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit the island," Pangkalpinang culture and tourism office spokesman Ahmad Elvian said in Pangkalpinang on Saturday.

The historical attractions on Bangka island, according to Ahmad, are among others Museum Timah (Tin Museum), Rumah Residen (Resident`s House), Dutch Cemetery, Perigi Pekasem (Pekasem Well), and Tugu Pergerakan Kemerdekaan (monument of independence movement).

"Meseum Timah used to be the house of Bangka Tin Winnig (BTW) workers, and the venue of meetings between Indonesian leaders and the Dutch government before the Roem-Royen conference," he said.

But Ahmad said the house at present had become the tin museum where visitors could learn about the history of tin mining in Indonesia.

Commenting on Rumah Residen, Ahmad said it had a specific historical background as indicated by the presence of two ancient cannons in its compound.

Another historical attraction, according to him, was Pekasem well at Tuatunu village in

Gerunggang sub-district, Pangkalpinang.

Ahmad said the bodies of people killed by Tentara Keamanan Rakyat (People`s security force) in the past were thrown into that well.

Meanwhile, local Transportation, Culture and Tourism Office (Dishubudpar) spokesman Choirul Amri Rani said in Muntok, Bangka, recently that the Bangka Barat district administration was also currently developing three tourist objects in the area.

"With their appealing natural beauty, the three tourism objects, namely Batu Rakit Beach, Menumbing rest house, and Dendang Hot Springs are expected to attract a multitude of both domestic and foreign tourists," Choirul Amri Rani said.

According to him Batu Rakit Beach was potential enough to be developed into a family sport and recreational object.

"We have prepared the entertainment supporting facility at the beach for tourists and local community to enjoy," Choirul said, adding that the local government had also renovated the Menumbing Resthouse for tourists.

He said Menumbing rest house had historic value because the house used to be the residence of Bung Karno and Bung Hatta when they were exiled to Bangka island during the Dutch colonial era.

"Visitors can enjoy the original state of the house in a more comfortable atmosphere because we have renovated it," Choirul said.

According to him, the third tourism object in Bangka Barat was Dendang hot springs in Kelapa sub-district.

To introduce the three tourist objects, he said, the Bangka Barat district government would continue to make familiarization through photos and brochures.

"With continuous familiarization, we hope many domestic and foreign tourists will come to Bangka Barat," he added.

Therefore, Choirul also expressed hope that the local people would actively improve their creativity by creating various typical crafts for souvenirs in a bid to support tourism in their area.

"Dishubudpar has organized a souvenir creating competition but unfortunately the participants are still very few," Choirul said, hoping the local economy would improve following the promotion of the three tourism objects.

To support the tourism industry on Bangka island, Babel transportation office spokesman M Ilyas said the runway of Depati Amir airport in Pangkalpinang was being extended and expected to be completed at the end of this year.

"It is expected that the extension of the airport`s runway from 2,250 meters to 2,600 meters will be completed before the end of this year," Ilyas said.

He explained that after the extension of the runway, the Depati Amir airport would be at the same level of other airports in the country for Boeing 737-400 aircraft.

"With its 2,600-meter runway, the Depati Amir airport will be able to be landed by Air Bus planes," Ilyas said.

No wonder he said more tourists were expected to visit Bangka island.

He added that the local transportation office put the extension of the airport`s runway on top priority because it is located at the provincial capital.

"We will prioritize the development of Depati Amir airport but it does not mean that we ignore HAS Hanandjuddin airport in Tanjungpandang," he said.

According to Ilyas, the development of Depati Amir airport, popularly known as Pangkalpinang airport, was the responsibility of airport management company PT Angkasa Pura-II while the expansion of HAS Hanandjuddin airport in Tanjungpandang was the responsibility of air transportation department.

"The air transportation office will facilitate the development of the two airports in Bangka Belitung province to make them more adequate," he said.

Ilyas explained that as of 2008, the Depati Amir airport at the provincial city was far behind HAS Hanandjuddin airport in Tanjungpandang.

"As of 2008 the Depati Amir airport was far behind HAS Hanandjuddin airport in Tanjungpandang, and therefore Bangka Belitung transportation service office prioritized the development of Depati Amir in stages.

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Pangkalpinang developing cultural sites as tourism objects

Playing Hooky in Ambon

Jakarta Globe, Ade Mardiyati | August 12, 2010

Heading east to the Maluku Islands, formerly known as the Moluccas, had always been on my things-to-do-before-I-die list, thanks to the alluring descriptions in travel guidebooks and images friends had posted on Facebook. So when my editor assigned me to cover Sail Banda 2010 on an invitation from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, I believed I was the luckiest writer in the office.

A stunning Ambonese sunset. (JG Globe)

I woke up early for a sleepy-eyed cab ride to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to catch my flight for Ambon, the capital of Maluku province.

The rushed and panicked crowd milling around the check-in counter of the low-cost airline I was flying with made it feel more like a hectic marketplace than an airport.

The flight to Ambon took about four hours, with a 20-minute transfer at Makassar Airport in South Sulawesi.

I took the opportunity to look around the new terminal, built in 2008, and its bright, modern interior put gloomy, dull Soekarno-Hatta to shame.

Stepping off the plane at Ambon’s Pattimura Airport, I was immediately aware that I was quite far away from home, both physically and psychologically.

The way people looked, talked and called to each other was different, and that’s what I’m after when traveling. Ambonese people tend to be tall, dark-skinned and speak in fast, high-pitched voices that get even faster near the end of their sentences.

The first thing that excited me was when I heard people use the word “beta,” which means “I” in its land of origin.

Whisked away from the airport in a car with some other journalists, I witnessed the magnificent beauty of Ambon Island.

Houses lined the hills while the waters of Ambon Bay stretched all the way to the city, which could be seen far below.

The streets were clean and a long line of shady trees added to the charm.

Wherever I looked, written on gigantic signs and banners, was a call to all citizens to help make the Sail Banda event a great success.

I began drawing up plans of all the islands I wanted to sail to during my six-day visit.

However, they were only plans.

It turned out that we were scheduled to cover the ministry’s programs, which didn’t include any sailing.

I felt that I had to be able to manage — if not steal — time to see what this eastern paradise offered.

One thing I liked about Maluku was that it never ran out of fish.

In fact, during the peak of Sail Banda, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared the province the “National Fish Belt,” with the potential to produce more than 1.6 million tons of fish a year, up from about 1.3 million tons at present.

My favorite place in Ambon to see the fish was Batu Merah market where the fresh catch of the day was displayed and sold cheaply, especially compared to Jakarta.

Seeing the abundant supply, I regretted not having the chance to watch the local fisherman ply their trade.

And so no day passed by without eating fish, something that only a voracious fish-eater like myself could be happy about.

My enthusiasm was not shared by most of the other journalists, who were not very happy about having to eat fish each and every day.

One early morning I escaped from the hotel with Raymond, another journalist.

On our way to Liang Beach, about an hour out of the city, we stopped to try some nasi kelapa, or coconut rice, which is said to be the most popular breakfast in Ambon.

Nasi kelapa is plain rice cooked with coconut milk, and is eaten with steamed shredded coconut, fish curry and salted fish.

Among the many nasi kelapa enthusiasts in Ambon, Ibu Ama’s is at the top of the list.

Every day, Ama said, she prepared at least 15 kilograms of rice for the dish.

She started her business “when Ambon was safe” in 2002, shortly after the religious conflict between the Christian and Muslim communities that erupted in late 1999 came to an end.

“You have not been in Ambon if you have not tasted nasi kelapa,” said Iwan, one of Ama’s customers.

On the way to catch an angkot, or public minivan, to the beach, we made another stop in Batu Merah, which is the center of Maluku’s most iconic product: pearls.

Most shops open around 9 a.m., but the Andika store was already half-open when we arrived there at 7:30.

Although the pearls were amazingly beautiful, I found it hard to find elegant-looking designs, not only in Andika but in other shops and in an exhibition I later went to.

Most of the designs were not very appealing, and often looked either too simple or too extravagant.

Fortunately, I found a simply beautiful silvery-white freshwater pearl necklace and purchased it for only Rp 80,000 ($9).

The same design made using saltwater pearls might cost nearly Rp 2 million.

From the pearl area, we took a stroll through a market.

It made for five minutes of nice sightseeing, and as we walked through the dimly lit stalls, I got a sense of the spirit of the Spice Islands, Maluku’s nickname.

Tiny mountains of fresh red chilies, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, pepper and many more spices that were foreign to me were an eye-catching sight.

Another iconic item in Maluku, sago, a starch extracted from sago palms, could also be easily found at the market.

Sago was once the staple food in Maluku, but now that people eat more rice, it has become a food served mostly during special occasions, a local told me.

Angkot rides in Ambon were always hilarious.

The drivers needed to make sure they kept themselves entertained by playing very loud music, be it Maluku pop songs or raunchy dangdut.

At least one elderly passenger sitting in front of me during one ride also enjoyed the music, flicking his fingers, closing his eyes, shaking his head gently and singing along.

We finally made it to Liang Beach, a breathtaking white-sand spot with crystal-clear water stretching out as far as the eye could see.

Having spent most of our time in boring venues the past few days, Raymond and I jumped in excitement like young children in lollipop land.

I quickly ran to the pier, enjoying every step, knowing that running would be out of the question once I returned home to Jakarta.

The beach was still quiet when we got there at 10 a.m., and I took advantage by doing some yoga on the pier while Raymond walked around taking pictures and engaging the locals in conversation.

Liang Beach is among the most popular beaches on Ambon Island, but it hasn’t suffered from overcommercialization.

Unlike Natsepa, which looked like the backyard of one luxury hotel, Liang was serene and seemingly untouched.

I was so fond of this beach that I returned the following day alone in the afternoon to watch the sunset.

I decided to take a bus to have a different experience, which cost me Rp 10,000 and a 30-minute wait for the bus to fill with passengers.

On the way, the bus, along with every other vehicle on the street, had to pull over and wait 20 minutes as Yudhoyono’s convoy passed by on the way to the Sail Banda event.

I sat and listened to the passengers’ complaints.

“Hey driver, tell SBY that beta need to catch the ferry!” yelled one old woman in the middle of the bus. Her high-pitched voice was followed by a chorus of other passengers calling out “Me too!”

“Can’t do, mama, just be patient!” the driver said.

The word “mama” was used to address older women in general, just like the much-used “ibu” in the Indonesian language.

As my time in Ambon was drawing near, I could not help feeling sad about having to fly back to Jakarta.

This might have just been the travel-blues I always get upon spending time away from the concrete jungle, but I also knew I had fallen for the island and its beaches.

There was yet so much to explore in and beyond Ambon, and I would have happily hopped on more ridiculous public transportation to do so.

Indonesian Archeologists to Investigate Potentially ‘Phenomenal’ Discovery

Jakarta Globe, Kinanti Pinta Karana, August 04, 2010

A photograph of a statue that claims to have been taken at a previously undiscovered underwater temple in the Bali Strait (Twitter Photo/@andjrot)

Jakarta. Indonesian tourism and cultural authorities have pledged to investigate a stunning series of photographs that claim to be of a number of underwater temples beneath the Bali Strait between Java and the resort island.

The story first broke on social networking site Twitter, with one user, identified as @andjrot, claiming that there were ten such underwater temples between Java and Bali.

Surya Helmi, director of undersea archeological division at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, refuted claims that the temples were discovered by Yogyakarta’s Archeological Office, saying if that was the case then the ministry would have been told about it.

“I first heard about the undersea temples two months ago but I doubt that the pictures were taken by Yogyakarta’s Archeological Office because they would have informed us,” Surya told the Jakarta Globe.

“I believe the pictures were taken by an independent team and I was informed that they wanted to meet me next week,” Surya said, adding that the ministry would conduct a thorough investigation.

“First, we will have to check whether the pictures are real or fabricated,” he said.

Surya, however, conceded that if the photographs were real, then the discovery was “phenomenal.”

“We do not know the exact location and we are intending to investigate after August 17,” he said, referring to Indonesian Independence Day.

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Darwin mayor wants yacht race to Ambon maintained

Antara News, Monday, August 2, 2010 17:42 WIB

Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - The annual Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race will be maintained as it is having a major impact on the continuity of the sister-city cooperation between Darwin and Ambon, the Australian city`s mayor said.

Darwin Mayor Graeme Sawyer said here on Monday the race was of great importance to the strengthening of the Darwin-Ambon sister city cooperative ties.

Sawyer admitted the prestigious international yacht race was also important to strengthen the relations between the peoples of Darwin and Ambon.

"The people of Darwin have a very friendly relationship with their friends in Ambon, and thus they make use of the yacht race every year to visit Maluku provincial capital," Sawyer said.

He expressed optimism that in the years to come the participant of the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race would continue to increase following conducive situation in Ambon after almost three-year sectarian violence from 1999-2002.

The Darwin to Ambon Yacht Race was initially organized by the Cruising Yacht Association of the Northern Territory Incorporated (CYANT).

That Association ran the event from 1976 until 1998 when it was suspended for safety and security reasons.

The 600 mile downwind race attracted six yachts in its inaugural year.

For months afterwards, conversation amongst returning yachties was dominated by stories of "champagne sailing", overwhelming hospitality, lovely friendly people, the scenic beauty, the cultural diversity, the food, and an annual event not to be missed.

Entries steadily increased over the years as the event?s reputation spread and its tradition grew.

International skippers began to use Ambon as a starting point to visit some of the 13,000 islands of the Indonesian Archipelago. Some sailed north to Manado and onto the Raja Muda Selangor Regatta in Malaysia.

Others headed southwest to the amazing Buton Passage and then on to visit the famous Komodo Dragons en route to Makassar or Bali and beyond.

A big factor in the growing popularity of the race was related to the excellent facilities Darwin offered for yachts and their crews. For many, Darwin would be the last access to western comforts and familiar language for many months.

Protect and secure

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 07/30/2010 4:57 PM

Protect and secure: Army soldiers stand on guard during a roll call at the Halong naval base in the Maluku capital of Ambon. Military and police troops regrouped Friday in a show of their readiness to maintain security and order during the Sail Banda international yacht regatta. – JP/Nurhayati

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Sail Banda kicks off

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 07/24/2010 8:31 PM      

The much awaited international marine event of Sail Banda kicked off in Darwin on Saturday.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono flagged off 49 of 106 foreign yachts to mark the start of the Sail Banda 2010 at Darwin's Cullen Bay, Antara news agency reported.

Spokesperson for the Maluku Culture and Tourism Office Florence Sahusilawane said participants of the event were scheduled to reach Banda Neira in on July 27.

Sahusilawane said all the yachts would also participate in a series of cultural festivals at different stopovers in Indonesia in the next three months, including the islands of Timor, Banda, Ambon, Buton, Lembata, Wakatobi, Flores, Sulawesi, Bali, Java, Borneo, Belitung and Batam or Bintan.

Located about 132 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Ambon, Banda Islands are made up of three larger islands and seven smaller ones perched on the rim of Indonesia`s deepest sea, the Banda Sea.

A reception ceremony attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be held on Aug. 3 for the participants.

Maluku governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said his administration would ensure order and security during the event.

Sail Banda participants to be greeted in Wakatobi

Antara News, Thursday, July 22, 2010 15:09 WIB

Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Sail Banda participants will be greeted with various cultural and art performances when they arrive at Wakatobi islands in Southeast Sulawesi on August 13, 2010.

"When the yachts participating in Sail Banda arrive at Wakatobi port on August 13, we will greet them with traditional "Bangka Mbule-mbule performance," Wakatobi district head Hugua said over his cellular phone from Wangi-wangi on Thursday.

Wakatobi is the name of an archipelago located in an area of Southeast Sulawesi, and in the biodiversity hotspot known as Wallacea as part of the Kepulauan Wakatobi National Park.

The Wakatobi is also home to Operation Wallacea, a UK based for non-profit conservation group looking at sustainable development of fisheries and coral reef research.

"When the yachts participating in Sail Banda approach Wakatobi, thousands of motorboats and local fishermen`s boats will rally around the yachts and escort them to the port," Hugua said.

He said Bangka Mbule-mbule is the ritual tradition of Bajo ethnic community in Wakatobi to ask for the Creator to bestow the local fishermen with blessing and save them from perils when they go fishing at open sea.

According to him, the Bangka Mbule-mbule attraction to greet Sail Banda participants would be performed by around 10,000 fishermen from various coastal areas in Wakatobi.

"About 1,000 motorboats and fishing boats carrying 10,000 fishermen will greet Sail Banda participants as their yachts approach Wakatobi," Hugua said.

He added that Wakatobi people have also prepared various art performances and dances to greet the Sail Banda participants in Wakatobi.

"Without much to say, the arrival of Sail Bada participants in Wakatobi will be marked with big parties because we have made a special committee to greet them as well as possible to make their visit pleasant," Hugua said.

Hugua also expressed hope that Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would agree on Southeast Sulawesi Governor Nur Alam`s proposal for Wakatobi to host Sail Indonesia 2011.

Torres Strait islanders win marine rights battle

BBC News, By Phil Mercer, 5 July 2010

Indigenous islanders in the Torres Strait are celebrating Australia's largest ever marine rights victory.

Community elders say it will help to
maintain their unique maritime culture

Communities there have secured ownership of more than 40,000 sq km of sea between the tip of northern Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

Ships, fishermen and other businesses will still be able to operate in the waters, but indigenous groups must be consulted about future development.

Australia's Federal Court made the ruling after a nine-year legal battle.

There has been jubilation across the Torres Strait as indigenous islanders celebrate a historic decision.

Community elders say it will help to maintain their unique maritime culture and provide economic opportunity.

At the heart of their claim was a call for their spiritual ties to the sea to be formally recognised.

The court's ruling does not grant islanders exclusive rights over the vast area of ocean, nor were they claimed.

More than 200 islands are peppered throughout the Torres Strait.

Its people speak two distinct languages. Their traditional beliefs are based on the sea, the land and the sky, which have been portrayed over thousands of years in a rich array of stories, songs and dances.

`Sail Banda` to cost Rp160 Billion

Antara News, Monday, June 21, 2010 01:26 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s annual maritime sail festivity event, `Sail Indonesia`, this time dubbed as "Sail Banda" as it will be centered in the Banda waters, Maluku province, will cost Rp160 billion.

"There is no special allocation, the total budget of the relevant ministries reached Rp160 billion," Director General for Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision, Aji Sularso, said here on Sunday.

Of the total budget, the biggest expenditure will be made by the Ministry of Public Works which reaches up to Rp70 billion.

Meanwhile, the office of the Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare will spend up to Rp26 billion, most of which were used for social activities.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (NOA) spent up to Rp11 billion for the implementation of various international seminars related to maritime affairs and fisheries.

The Maluku regional government set a budget for the event, Sail Banda, amounting to Rp12 billion.

Various activities will start early in July with an initial activity of a major operation `Surya Bakti Jaya` on July 5, Youth Marine Sail, on July 23, a sailboat race from Darwin, Australia, and the major event, the Parade, which will begin on July 24.

As many as 110 sailboats from various countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Europe, have registered for the "Rally Yatch Banda Sail." A total of 50 sail boats will go straight to Banda, the rest will sail to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara province.

Marine sports event aims to heal local welfare woes

Dina Indrasafitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 06/12/2010 10:18 AM

The Sail Banda event to be held in Maluku promises hope for future economic development and improved welfare a decade after the province was ravaged by bloody sectarian conflict.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu said Friday the government would announce his province as the country’s national fishery buffer stock region.

“We pray that on Aug. 3, 2010, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will officially announce Maluku as a national fishery storage area and this plan will revive Maluku province’s maritime and fishery development,” he said in a press conference in Jakarta. Sail Banda is slated to kick off next month and will run until mid-August.

The maritime affairs and fisheries minister said the Sail Banda yacht rally would be preceded by a charity event involving the United States’ hospital ship USNS Mercy.

The USNS Mercy, along with local ship KRI Dr. Suharso SHS-990 and ships from Singapore and Australia, will channel aid, as well as procedures related to maternal and child health to a number of areas, including Banda Island and Seram Island.

During an event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) earlier this year, the Health Ministry cited data from the 2007 basic health research.

It revealed that Maluku ranked second after East Nusa Tenggara in terms of malnutrition.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said the event was marked by its philanthropic support. “What makes [Sail Banda] different from Sail Bunaken, is the abundance of social [charity] events,” he said. Last year, the country hosted the Sail Bunaken marine festival off Manado in North Sulawesi.

Karel said that despite progress made since the post-conflict days, Maluku province was still struggling. “During the riots, our economic development growth rate has been minus 26 percent; nowadays… our economic growth is almost 6 percent,” he said, adding that he hoped the Sail Banda would boost the province’s welfare.

Fadel said that his ministry was planning to lure investors from China, Australia and Japan to boost the province’s fishery activity.

The Sail Banda event will feature a number of activities such as marine sports, mangrove planting and the celebration of the nation’s Independence Day in Kisar Island, one of Indonesia’s outermost islands.

The yacht rally is scheduled to flag off from Darwin, Australia on July 24. Thus far, 106 ships from 16 countries have registered.

Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono said the proposed budget for the event was Rp 161 billion.

700 Youths to Gather in Ambon for Maritime Program

Jakarta Globe, May 24, 2010

About 700 youths are meeting in Ambon for the Sail Banda program. (Photo: JG)

Ambon, Maluku. At least 700 youths will gather in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon in late July to participate in a “Maritime Teenagers Across Archipelago” program.

“Some 700 youths from across the country are expected to arrive here for the ‘Maritime Teenagers Across Archipelago’ program scheduled for late July until August 4, 2010 as part of the international marine event of Sail Banda 2010,” Sail Banda local committee chairman for youth and sports affairs Azis Lattar said on Monday.

He said the teenagers from across the country would come to Ambon to take part in a camping program with local scouts at Telaga Kodok village in Leihitu sub-district, Ambon.

In addition to the camping program, the teenagers would visit a cultural park in Ambon, have discussions with their peers from Maluku, and take part in a mangrove-planting drive along the coast of Ambon’s Inner Bay.

“We are also making arrangements for the youths to have a dialog with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Sail Banda peak event here on August 3, 2010,” Lattar said.

The youths would be transported to Ambon by a number of naval ships, including the KRI Dewaruci and KRI Arung Samudra, which would leave from Sabang, Belawan, Jakarta, Bali, Labuhan Bajo, Ambon and Merauke.

Antara