Indonesia

Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has recently agreed to recognize smaller religions on its national identity cards, after a long legal battle and social pressure.  The agreement, which allows the followers of local religions to choose a new category of “belief” on their cards, is seen as a step forward for the freedom of religion and belief in the …

Prabowo Subianto, the former army general and son-in-law of the late dictator Suharto, is running for president of Indonesia for the third time in 2024.  He claims to be a champion of democracy, development, and national sovereignty, and has gained popularity among many Indonesians who are dissatisfied with the current government.  But behind his political ambition lies a dark and …

Ali Imron, also known as Ali Ghufron, is one of the convicted perpetrators of the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people and injured more than 200 others in Indonesia’s popular tourist island. The bombings, which targeted two nightclubs and the US consulate, were carried out by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a militant Islamist group linked to al-Qaeda, which aimed to …

The Rohingya are a Muslim minority group that have faced persecution and violence in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and basic rights.  Since 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, where they live in overcrowded and squalid camps. Many of them have also attempted to seek refuge in other countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, often …

As Indonesia prepares to elect its next president and vice president in February 2024, the issue of China’s growing influence and presence in the country has become a source of contention and controversy.  China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner and a major investor in various infrastructure projects, such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and the Batang Toru hydropower plant. However, …

TikTok, a popular video-sharing app, has become a new battleground for Indonesia’s presidential candidates, who are trying to attract young voters ahead of the February 14, 2024 election.  The app, which has around 99 million monthly active users in Indonesia, allows users to create and share short videos with music, filters, and stickers. The app also features live-streaming, interactive talks, …

Mary Jane Veloso, a 38-year-old Filipina domestic worker, was arrested in 2010 at the airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin in her luggage. She was sentenced to death by firing squad in 2015, but was granted a last-minute reprieve after the Philippine government intervened.  Veloso has always maintained her innocence, claiming that she was duped by …

Indonesia has introduced a new law that will affect tourists who buy goods online from overseas sellers. The new law, which took effect on January 1, 2024, requires tourists to pay a 10 per cent sales tax on low value goods (LVG) that are shipped from abroad to Indonesia. The new law aims to protect local producers and consumers, and …

Indonesia’s residents have shown hostility and resistance against the arrival of more Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, who have fled persecution and violence in their homeland.  The residents have staged protests, attacked shelters, and demanded the deportation of the refugees, who they perceive as a burden and a threat to their communities.  The negative attitude of the residents towards the Rohingya …

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, one of the two stratovolcanoes that make up Mount Lewotobi in East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, erupted again on Monday, January 2, 2024, sending a plume of ash and smoke up to 10 kilometers high.  The eruption was the latest in a series of eruptions that have occurred since December 23, 2023, when the volcano first showed …