From Biak in Papua to Medan in Sumatra, fireworks, fiestas and excitement brightened up many parts of the archipelago as Indonesia bade farewell to 2011 and welcomed 2012 with colorful celebrations.

Just as Christmas was spent in peace and devotion, so this New Year’s Eve was enjoyed by all amidst the country’s peaceful conditions.

The crowds that filled the Imam Bonjol street in Biak, Papua, were among the first to joyfully sound their paper trumpets, lighting up fire-crackers as  this Eastern Indonesia Time region stepped into 2012 ahead of its Central and Western Indonesia Time neighbors. The heavy rain that poured down on the city of Jayapura, did not stop the enthusiasm of the people as the capital of Papua Province celebrated the turn of the year.

In Manado, capital of North Sulawesi, an hour of nonstop fireworks from multiple corners of the city lit up the nightsky reaching its grand finale with simultaneous fireworks as the clock struck midnight Central Indonesia Time. Crowds flocked to major streets of the city, especially at the Boulevard area where the fireworks fiesta was centered. The governor of North Sulawesi and the Mayor of Manado and several government officials attended the vibrant celebration. While in Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi, no less than 10.000 people thronged onto the beautiful Losari Beach, sounding their car horns and trumpets together as the countdown ended.

On the fabled island of Bali, locals and tourists mixed in vibrant celebration at favorite spots around the island such as at Kuta Beach, the Bali Bomb Monument, and Denpasar. In Denpasar, capital of Bali, celebrations were held at the Puputan I Gusti Made Ngurah Agung Field, Simpang Enam and several locations along the Teuku Umar Street.

The skies of Yogyakarta on Java sparkled with colorful fireworks, as the clock on Western Indonesia Time hit 00:00 on January 1^st, 2012. Thousands of people, tourists and locals alike filled the area around Malioboro Street as they excitedly waited for the countdown. Aside from Malioboro, fireworks displays were also held at Tugu Yogyakarta, Zero Kilometer point near the Central Post Office, the North Square, and at the South Square.

Never ending sounds of trumpets and firecrackers highlighted Jakarta, as the metropolitan capital welcomed the coming of the year 2012. Situated right in the heart of Jakarta, The National Monument or Monas once again became main gathering place as people collectively shouted the countdown to New Year and watched exploding fireworks. Colorful fireworks were also launched from the shores of Ancol as crowds were also entertained with various musical performances.

The turn of the year was also celebrated in major cities of Sumatra, such as at Bandarlampung, Medan, Palembang, and Banda Aceh. In Bandarlampung, aside from the usual fireworks and musical stages, the turn of  the year was highlighted with a unique festival featuring the island’s renowned fruit: the Durian. Taking place at the Saburai Sports Building, the festival gave the audience to taste more than 10,000 durians as they waited for the coming of the New Year.  In Medan, as the countdown to 2012 ended, the exploding sound of fireworks launched reverberated from Taman Sri Deli. Minutes later the skies of Medan shone with ever changing colors and formations of fireworks as the crowds clapped and roared in amazement.

For an initial investment in Indonesia, RIM plans to build a research center in Indonesia through cooperation with several universities.

"RIM vice president told me he would invest in Indonesia soon," said Coordinating Minister Hatta Rajasa after receiving a delegation of RIM in the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, on Monday (3 / 10). Coordinating Minister Hatta intentions were invited to build a research center was soon realized. In a meeting with the Indonesian government was, RIM delegation also asked about the business climate of Indonesia.

Not long ago, Indonesia was made public frustrated because RIM to build a factory in Malaysia. In fact, from the number of users of RIM’s products, Indonesia is not exactly a small market. Later, according to Hatta, the delegation RIM did not actually invest in Malaysia, but working with a company.

While RIM conducted in Indonesia this is “real” investment. Hatta see RIM do not know how much Indonesia has done something major changes in building competitiveness, ranging from fiscal reforms to reform the tax facility.

Research in Motion (RIM), which manufactures BlackBerry came straight to visit the Coordinating Minister for the Economic Affairs of Indonesia in Jakarta to convey their intention to invest in Indonesia. RIM intentions to invest had actually also been mentioned in the meeting when the Indonesian Delegation visited RIM in Waterloo on September 21, 2011. According to one of the members of RIM, who participated in the meeting, the visit to RIM and the fruitful discussion, which was led by Edy Putra Irawady has made the investment climate in Indonesia more conducive and attractive.

In addition, in the field of electricity energy, Canadian entrepreneurs such as, SNC Lavalin, Biothermica Technologies Inc., Brookfiled Power & Utilities Group, Robert Hydraulique Inc., and Sunjaya Solar Corporation has also conveyed their intentions to immediately invest in Indonesia. It was mentioned after the Representative from PLN, Suroso Isnandar, explained various investment opportunities in the field of electricity energy in Indonesia. The companies will soon visit Indonesia in the coming months in order to follow-up their intentions.

Export Development Corporation (EDC) of Canada welcomes the visit of the Indonesian Delegation and encourages the Canadian investors in the field of electricity energy to invest in Indonesia. The Representative of EDC said that EDC is ready to assist Canadian companies to invest in Indonesia.

Bamboo Musical (Angklung) performances of Mang Ujo Group conducted at Hillcrest High School on September 20th, 2011, was attended by about 650 students consisted of three different schools. The group performances were greeted with full enthusiasm from the students and the teachers. The Principal of Hillcrest HS, Reg Laverg
ne, said that his school will have a program to visit Indonesia (Bali) in order to provide opportunities for the students to broaden their general knowledge. This Program to visit Indonesia will be conducted by the school in cooperation with the Edutrati Inc.

Muslim fashion of Indonesia has also been promoted during this visit. There are about 500 thousand Muslims live in Canada. And therefore, there is a potential market for this product. Almost all of the products were worn by the models during the Fashion Show were purchased after the event at the Ottawa Convention Centre on September 19th, 2011.

There can be no better investment in children future, than to enable the provision of good education to equip them for adult life with a good career or jobs prospects.

To register, please download the following form:

• Invitation Letter
• Registration Form

In an effort to raise funds for natural disaster victims in Indonesia, the Friends of Indonesia will organize its Annual Valentine Dinner celebration.

VENUE:

Oxford Room
Holiday Inn Hotel
111 Cooper Street
Ottawa ON  K2P 2E3 (View map)
Phone: (613) 789-5496

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, February 12, 2011, 7:00 PM to Midnight

COST:

$30.00 per person
Part of this cost will go to disaster victims through the Canadian Red Cross

MENU:

Full Buffet Dinner

REGISTRATION:

Please register with Ms. Ria Arthurs 613-836-6843, ria_arthurs05@yahoo.ca  (Main Coordinator) or Ms. Chitra Darwin 613-736-7201, chitra@indonesia-ottawa.org

PROGRAM:

• Indonesian Dance performance
• Karaoke
• Learning SALSA Dance with Sandy
• Belly Dance Show with Jana

Please come join us and have fun with your loved ones and cheerful friends during this loving event for a good cause.  And do hurry as seats are limited!

You can download the poster that is suitable for printing from this link.

Sebagai salah satu upaya penggalangan dana untuk membantu para korban bencana alam Gunung Merapi yang terjadi baru-baru ini di Indonesia, 2 organisasi komunitas Indonesia di Ottawa, yakni Indonesian Canadian Congress (ICC) dan Friends of Indonesia (FOI), bergabung untuk menyelanggarakan acara tahun baru yang bertempat di Kanata South Business Park tanggal 31 Desember kemarin. Dari acara tersebut berhasil dikumpulkan dana bersih sebesar CAD$750 yang akan disalurkan ke Indonesia melalui charity organization terdaftar di Canada. Turut hadir pada acara tersebut adalah Dubes Indonesia untuk Kanada Ibu Dienne H. Moehario.

Friday, December 31, 2010
9:00pm – 1:00am

Kanata South Business Park
150-B Terence Matthews Crescent, Kanata, ON K2M 1X4

Admission: $ 15/adult, $7/child 12 yr and below ($20/adult, $10/child at
the door)

All Proceeds go to the victims of Indonesian Volcano eruptions

Download the brochure: ICC New Year 2010-2011 Brochure

Please contact us for the ticket.

In approximately 70 minutes, Ucu captures the heart-breaking stories of three victims of malpractice and injustice at the hands of the country’s health care system.

While each subject faces different problems, they all face the same struggle for their rights as patients and citizens. Their cases show how difficult it can be for people to get justice in these cases, because Indonesia’s medical practitioners tend to stand together in silence.

The film also serves as a loud reminder that injustice in the medical sector does not discriminate between social classes.

“Conspiracy of Silence” starts with a report issued by the World Health Organization, stating that Indonesia is ranked 92 out of 193 countries in terms of the performance of its health service industry.

Then it jumps into the story of Siti Chomsatun, an elderly woman who can barely speak.

She hisses when she speaks because her vocal chords were paralyzed after an allegedly botched thyroid surgery in March 2009 at Kramat 128 Hospital in Jakarta.

Read more from The Jakarta Globe