SBY Tries Lyrical Leadership Once More

SBY Tries Lyrical Leadership Once More

In a nation plagued by seeds of disintegration — as hard-line radicals spread intolerance and separatist clashes dominate news out of the archipelago’s east — there is only so much that policy prescriptions can do.

Perhaps realizing these limits, Indonesia’s uniter in chief has boldly cried for “Harmoni,” (“Harmony”) the title of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s fourth album, released on Monday.

“The president is sending his message across through songs, so the public won’t get bored,” said Energy Minister Jero Wacik after the album’s launch in Central Jakarta.

“Indonesians don’t respond well to speeches. People are getting tired of speeches.”

The president wrote all eight songs on the album and like his previous records, “Harmoni” features some of the nation’s well respected singers, such as pop legends Rafika Duri and Harvey Malaiholo, and up-and-coming stars Sandy Sandoro, Afghan, Rio Febrian and Joy Tobing.

“[Harmony] is the pinnacle of all aspirations, expectations, and dreams of every leader. In one way or another, a leader always aspires to create a harmonious social order for the people,” Yudhoyono wrote in the album’s foreword.

“The harmony I expressed in this album is not just that among humans, but also among nations and most importantly, the harmonious relationship between mankind and the universe.”

Jero said there is nothing wrong with the president’s penchant for lyricism. “The president writes songs in his spare time, so it’s OK for him to write once in a while. He is writing them for the people,” the minister said.

“You need to understand that by writing songs, he is doing his [presidential] work, although he doesn’t do this everyday.”

There is no telling whether Yudhoyono’s latest endeavor will enjoy the same moderate success as his third album, “Ku Yakin Sampai di Sana” (“I’m Certain I’ll Get There”). He released his first album, “Rinduku Padamu” (“I Miss You”) in 2007, followed by “Evolusi” (“Evolution”) in 2009 .

"Harmoni", Puncak Obsesi SBY

"Harmoni", Puncak Obsesi SBY

"Inilah puncak segala dambaan, obsesi, harapan dan cita-cita setiap pemimpin dari zaman ke zaman."

Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) melaunching album keempat bertajuk "Harmoni" di Jakarta, hari ini.

Dalam album terbaru ini, SBY menyajikan delapan buah lagu bertajukkan "Harmoni" yang mengusung tema alam, cinta dan kedamaian.

Dalam sekapur sirih album Harmoni: Alam, Cinta dan Kedamaian, SBY mengatakan harmoni adalah tatanan perdamaian yang terwujud dalam realitas kemajemukan.

"Perbedaan tidak menjadi sebab perseteruan apalagi perpecahan, tapi justru mematangkan kokoh simpul-tali persatuan. Latar belakang yang tidak selalu sama adalah pertanda khazanah kekayaan bukan potensi permusuhan."

"Inilah puncak segala dambaan, obsesi, harapan dan cita-cita setiap pemimpin dari zaman ke zaman. Dengan berbagai cara, seorang pemimpin akan berikhtikar menciptakan tatanan sosial yang harmonis bagi segenap rakyatnya tanpa kecuali."

"Harmoni yang saya ekspresikan dalam album ini tidak saja dalam hubungan antar manusia tetapi juga antar bangsa dan yang tak kalah penting adalah hubungan yang harmonis antara manusia dan alam semesta."

Dalam album keempatnya ini, Presiden SBY menggandeng beberapa penyanyi terkenal untuk menyanyikan lagu ciptaannya. Antara lain Rafika Duri, Harvey Malaiholo, Sandhy Sondhoro, Afghan, Joy Tobing, Rio Febrian, serta Jeffery Pescetto.

Lagu SBY Jadi Pembuka dan Penutup Sea Games

Lagu SBY Jadi Pembuka dan Penutup Sea Games

Selain didedikasikan untuk SEA Games 2011 di Indonesia, juga untuk kerjasama dan persahabatan intra dan antar kawasan yang lain.

"Bersatu dan Maju" salah satu lagu dari album keempat Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) yang bertajuk "Harmoni", akan menjadi lagu pembuka dan penutup Sea Games.

Theme songs Sea Games ini nantinya akan dinyanyikan oleh Joy Tobing.

"Saya akan menyanyikan lagu Bersatu dan Maju sebagai Sea Games theme songs pada saat pembukaan dan penutupan Sea Games mendatang," kata Joy, ketika ditemui di gedung Teater Kecil, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, hari ini.

Lagu "Bersatu dan Maju" tersebut diciptakan SBY di Bogor, 17 September 2011.

"Lagu ini pertama-tama saya dedikasikan untuk acara SEA Games 2011 di Indonesia. Tetapi sebetulnya juga berlaku untuk kerjasama dan persahabatan intra dan antar kawasan yang lain," tulis SBY, seperti dikutip dari sekapur sirih album "Harmoni".

Sebelumnya, SBY tercatat sudah pernah menelurkan tiga album, Rinduku Padamu (2007), Evolusi (2009), dan Ku Yakin Sampai di Sana (2010).

SBY to Focus on Migrant Protection in Geneva Address

SBY to Focus on Migrant Protection in Geneva Address

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono vowed on Monday to seek increased protections for Indonesian migrant workers during his address at the 100th International Labor Conference in Geneva today.

In a press conference prior to his departure, Yudhoyono said it was in Indonesia’s best interests to protect its workers abroad.

“That’s what I will say in my speech,” he said. “I will call on other countries that host our migrant workers to [shield them].”

He added the scope of the problems facing migrant workers was complex, which prompted the need for a national policy on managing such issues.

“Just so you know, Indonesia has ratified several very important conventions on workers,” Yudhoyono said.

“There are seven or eight key conventions. Indonesia was one of the first countries in Asean to do so. That shows how serious we are about tackling the problems facing our workers abroad.”

However, Anis Hidayah, executive director of the nongovernmental group Migrant Care, told the Jakarta Globe that the government had not ratified the International Labor Organization’s conventions on domestic workers or migrant workers.

“The government has just ratified the eight basic ILO conventions, including those on forced labor, equality and non-discrimination, freedom of association and protection of the right to organize,” she said.

“But it still hasn’t ratified the conventions on domestic workers or migrant workers. We must question why the government keeps putting of the ratification of these conventions, even in light of the fact that the conditions faced by Indonesian migrant workers are of serious concern.”

Anis said Yudhoyono’s claims of commitment to worker protection had failed to translate to action.

“It sounds like a joke when you have reports saying that Indonesia has successfully ratified the ILO conventions on migrant and domestic workers, when in fact Indonesia hasn’t done it yet.”

“So it’s very important that after the president gives his speech at the ILO conference, he must order the relevant government institutions to work on ratifying the ILO conventions.”

Retno Dewi, chairwoman of the Indonesian Workers Association (ATKI), said the failure to ratify these conventions had led to the 2004 Law on the Protection of Migrant Workers being far from effective in stipulating workers’ rights.

“Only eight of the 108 articles in the law touch on the rights of migrant workers, but they do so in a vague, ambiguous manner,” she said. Domestic workers in the country fared no better in terms of protection, she added.

“There are no laws on the statutes that recognize the rights of domestic workers,” Retno said.

Additional reporting by BeritaSatu