August 20, 2010 - Aceh. DISKUSI is Indonesian acronym of Radio Komunitas untuk Akuntabilitas dan Transparansi (Enhancing Transparency and Accountability through Community Radio), which is a cooperation program between the Executing Team of PNPM Mandiri and 150 community radios scattered in six provinces in Indonesia, namely Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatera, West Java, Central Java, South Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara.
This activity is aimed at improving transparency in the implementation of PNPM Mandiri. It is expected that through this activity the communities or the actors of PNMP at subdistrict or village levels can be inspired to efficiently use or even create simple media to share information, grievances, suggestions or complaints about the PNPM Mandiri.
The expectation was successfully realized by Kembang FM which managed to help establish FM Ankasa. Seeing the effectiveness of the DISKUSI program run by Kembang FM in Glumpang Baro Subdistrict which was the result of the division of Kembang Tanjung Subdistrict in the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, one of the actors of PNPM Mandiri was inspired.
It is Abdullah Said familiarly called Cek Lah, who most frequently visited Kembang FM commanded by Samson Qamar to talk about PNPM Mandiri in the broadcast of the radio. Cek Lah in the capacity as the Assistant to the PNPM Glumpang Baro Subdistrict Facilitator assessed that the DISKUSI program had a strategic and effective role as a means of socialization. As a result, he proactively gave support in the form of providing information - both orally and in writing to the Kembang FM.
Through several meetings, Cek Lah often expressed his expectation that a community radio was also established in his region. His expectation was also supported by Samson Qamar. Having capital of the available instruments, he assembled transmitting components that ultimately produced an exciter of 25W power.
Support from youth activists of Glumpang Baro was also quite good. Therefore, in June 2010 Ankasa FM managed to be on air by taking a location at Keudee (market) of Glumpang Baro, exactly in an empty wood-walled stall. A few days later, the DISKUSI program provided training in journalistic techniques and the visions and missions of the community radio for volunteers.
The service coverage of the community radio in the Subdistrict of Glumpang Baro is now expanding. Announcements, discussions and information about PNPM Mandiri speedily enter the houses, coffee shops and government offices in the area of the subdistrict.
