PROFILE

Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Anwar Makarim declares that we need to put meaning in the celebration of the 2023 National Education Day, by reviving the spirit of “Merdeka Belajar”, or “Free to Learn”, a movement that he initiated at the start of his taking office. 

Education in Indonesia owes much to Ki Hadjar Dewantara. A Javanese nobleman born “Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat” in the Paku Alaman region in Yogyakarta, on 2 May 1889, he is also known as an Indonesian Independence activist. 

Indonesian social justice activist Nukila Evanty attended the 22nd United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York on Apr 17-28, 2023. The Forum was established by the UN General Assembly on Jul 28, 2000, through Resolution 2000/22, with a mandate to deal with indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights. The forum is held annually between April and May. The Permanent Forum consists of 16 experts and is attended by indigenous peoples’ organizations, academics, human rights activists, representatives of UN special agencies and representatives of member countries. Every representative can attend a session of the Permanent Forum as an observer and deliver a 3–5 minute statement according to the agenda.

Indonesia has many illustrious heroines: Tjoet Nyak Dien, Christina Martha Tiahahu and HR Rasoena Said, just to name a few. However, there is only one whose day of commemoration is named after herself -- R.A. Kartini. 

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is currently holding its 22nd session in New York, United States of America. This year's topic is "Indigenous Peoples, Human Health, Planetary and Territorial Health, and Climate Change: A Rights-Based Approach," and it is being held at the United Nations Building from April 17 to April 28, 2023.

Indonesia has become a concert destination for global musicians. This is inseparable from the persistence and toughness of our music promoters and event organizers in their efforts to get respected artists to perform in our country. Among these unsung heroes is Gerhana “Ghana” Banyubiru, the director and initiator of The Sounds Project music festival. The man born in Jakarta on 23 July 1993 is also the Indonesian Music Promoters’ Association (Asosiasi Promotor Musik Indonesia – “APMI”) Vice Chairman for Public Communications and Promotion for the 2023- 2025 term.

The Indonesian Air Force recently celebrated its 77th anniversary, on 9 April. According to the provisions of Article 10 Chapter IV of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 34 of 2004, its duties are to perform the defense of our aerial realm, to uphold the laws and protect the safety of the aerial territory in our national jurisdiction, according to the provisions of ratified national and international laws, to participate in the development and solidification of our aerial force projection, and to empower our national aerial defense.

Everybody who is anybody is familiar with Aman Resorts, the chain of hotels and inns spanning 20 countries. Its current CEO maybe Russian Vladislav Doronin, but it was actually established by Indonesian Adrian Willem Lauw Zecha back in the day.

Indonesian superband Dewa 19 is releasing a new song, “Love is Blind”, in cooperation with major international musicians, including Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (member of Sons of Apollo, former member of Guns N’ Roses) on guitar, Simon Phillips (former member of Toto) on drums, Derek Sherinian (former Dream Theater member) on keyboard, Dino Jelusic (Whitesnake) Jeff Scott Soto (Sons of Apollo) for the vocals, and Billy Sheehan (member of Mr. Big, Talas) as bassist. 

Nukila Evanty is a gender equality and human rights activist who conducts advocacy and training in border areas and regions with the most extensive distribution of migrant workers in Indonesia.

The Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Defense’s Reserve Component program, an initiative of Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto, has attracted France’s attention. Recently, the Deputy Commander of France’s Territorial National Land Forces, Brig. Gen, Gilles Haberey, visited our Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Resources.