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Washington, D.C., April 19, 2001 -- The Voice of America's (VOA) Indonesian Service broadcast the first program today of VOA Forum, a roundtable discussion with editors from Indonesia's top newspapers.  The 15-minute program aired during the "Evening Show" (7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Jakarta) and highlighted major events in U.S.-Indonesian relations. 

The  first roundtable discussion focused on the International Monetary Fund's vote on aid to Indonesia.  The vote is expected within the next two weeks.  Guests Wahyu Rudharto, national editor of the daily Suara Merdeka in Semarang, and Luthfi Subagio, city editor of the daily Suara Indonesia in Surabaya, joined VOA Senior Editor Zulkamain Tajibnapis on the first broadcast of VOA Forum. Suara Merdeka is the largest paper in Central Java with a circulation of more than 300,000 subscribers. Suara Indonesia is affiliated with the most widely-read newspaper in Surabaya, Jawa Pos.

VOA Forum's weekly guests will include different editors of newspapers, magazines, and radio stations throughout Indonesia.  The new 15-minute lively, fast-paced, roundtable program is designed to appeal to a broad Indonesian audience.

The Voice of America broadcasts over 900 hours of news and information each week to an estimated worldwide audience of 91 million regular listeners.  Broadcasting in 53 languages, VOA reaches its audience over radio, television, and the Internet.  Based on a survey done in 1999, independent researchers report that the Voice of America has approximately two million listeners in Indonesia.

For additional information, please contact the Office of External Affairs at (202) 619-2538 or send email to pubaff@voa.gov.