Five Indonesians Receive French 'Alumni Trophy'

Jakarta, March 29 (Antara) - Five distinguished Indonesians have received the first 'Alumni Trophy' from the French government at an event jointly held by the country's embassy to Indonesia and its cultural center Institut Français d'Indonésie here on Sunday. The trophy was awarded to five former French university alumni, including the Bandung Institute of Technology's rector Kadarsyah Suryadi, a prominent fiction writer Andrea Hirata, a television figure Ajeng Kamaratih, a former deputy of Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry Sapta Nirwandar, and a founder of feminist publication 'Jurnal Perempuan' Gadis Arivia. "French government grants these trophies to five Indonesians who have outstanding achievements in developing their communities as well as strengthening the countries' bilateral relations," the Ambassador of France to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Jean-Charles Berthonnet, said in his opening speech. Around thousands of French university alumni, including these five prominent figures from Indonesia, have been assigned to be the academy's ambassadors as they reflect the good quality of the country's higher education system, the ambassador remarked. Arivia, who received a trophy under the civilian category, hopes the French government's high appreciation could encourage the equality and empowerment of women in Indonesia. "The law and tradition remain a challenge to introduce equality to the women in economical, social, educational, as well as political fields," Arivia noted. Meanwhile, a prominent literary figure whose novels, including 'Laskar Pelangi' (The Rainbow Troops), have been translated into many languages hopes the trophy could urge young Indonesian writers to always produce good work. "I wish this appreciation could take Indonesia's literary works into another level," Hirata, a winner in New York Book festival, stated. The ceremony event on Sunday, which was held at Raffless Hotel ballroom, Jakarta, also featured a gala dinner served by a French Michelin chef Jean-François Piège and a fashion show performed by Sebastian Gunawan. The event was also attended by the country¿s senior actress Catherine Deneuve, Indonesian senior actress Christine Hakim, and the President of French University Alumni Poppy Dharsono. u.