Fulan Fehan Festival deepens Indonesia's ties with neighbors: Minister

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian framed Fulan Fehan Festival IV as a platform for Indonesia to amplify its cultural diplomacy toward stronger relations with neighboring countries, particularly Timor-Leste and Australia.

The festival launched on Saturday, June 27, in Dirun Village, Belu District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), an Indonesian province sharing a land border with Timor-Leste. It drew local participants as well as visitors from Timor-Leste and Australia.

As cited in a statement on Sunday, Karnavian noted that the festival’s theme “Dance in Friendship” is in line with President Prabowo Subianto’s repeated emphasis on the importance of fostering friendships and avoiding hostility.

"One thousand friends are not enough. One enemy is already too many. Four tribes are gathering here as one, dancing together and becoming friends," he remarked while opening the festival, which was marked by the sound of the tihar, a traditional musical instrument from Belu.

The minister said that it was his first time attending a Fulan Fehan Festival, highlighting its natural setting as distinct from other large-scale performances he had witnessed on man-made stages.

“Rather than taking place at a venue built by humans, this festival is held in a beautiful savanna surrounded by hills,” he said, referring to the nearby Mount Lakaan.

Karnavian reiterated that the festival serves as a diplomatic instrument to foster closer relations with Timor-Leste and Australia through arts and culture, adding that its multicultural nature also symbolizes Indonesia’s unity in diversity.

He emphasized that tribes in Belu “remain within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia” despite their cultural and linguistic differences.

“Hopefully, Fulan Fehan will transform into an international festival in the coming years,” the minister concluded.

Present during the opening ceremony were Deputy Chief of Staff for the Timor-Leste Presidency Fatima Liu Soares, Timor-Leste State Secretary for Art and Culture Jorge Cristovao, and Darwin Mayor Peter Styles of Australia.

Indonesian Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto, NTT Governor Melki Laka Lena, and Belu District Head Willybrodus Lay also attended the event.

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Translator: Fianda Sjofjan, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: Arie Novarina

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