We can never solve a problem if we do not intend to solve it in the first place. That's what we feel about the government's intentions in Papua.

Following the controversial parole of a pilot convicted of murdering a leading human rights activist, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H.

For the public, the message that emerged from the peaceful, uninterrupted Golkar Party national congress in Bali over the last few days was crystal clear: The party has confirmed its bi

The early release of Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, the murderer of prominent human rights advocate Munir Said Thalib, indicates that Indonesia under President Joko Widodo begins a losi

Rosalia Sciortino, Bangkok – The first-ever Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day on Dec.

Pierre-Richard Prosper – The recent news that Timor-Leste's parliament voted to terminate contracts of the international judges it has relied upon since the birth of its country should

As expected, a number of lawmakers have moved to file a petition to request the House of Representatives to exercise its interpellation right to demand an explanation from the governmen

While there is nothing illegal in President Joko Widodo's appointment of National Democratic Party politician H.M.

Jayapura – Hundreds of Papuan students held a protest to reject the transmigration program in Papua.

John McCarthy, Canberra – Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has moved into Indonesia's presidential palace.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, in the job less than a month, has caused waves with his suggestion that the religion field on citizens' ID cards, or KTP, can be left blank.

Michael Bachelard, Jakarta – Two teachers at the prestigious Jakarta International School are facing court for allegedly sodomising young boys in their care but, for the first time, pub

Warren Doull – With the great hope for Indonesian democracy, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, taking office last month, pro-democracy groups in the country are buzzing.

Tony Walker – When French journalists – Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat – are released from 2-and-a-half months of Indonesian detention on Monday, it will bring to an end a mini-sa

The description of the House of Representatives by late president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is still fresh in people's minds – a "kindergarten", he called the rowdy legislature during

Banjir Ambarita, Jayapura – Authorities in Papua have arrested a police officer and are questioning three soldiers suspected of supplying ammunition to an armed separatist cell blamed f

Indonesia's new president, Joko Widodo, has held his first Cabinet meeting amidst criticism from human rights activists for picking a new defense minister who once defended military kil

Allan Nairn, Jakarta – General A.M.

Michael Bachelard, Jakarta – And so it begins.

The first cabinet for Indonesia's new, 'reformist' president, Joko Widodo, is striking for how bad some of the appointments are, writes Edward Aspinall.

President Joko Widodo has been hailed as the country's first leader who has no ties to the past corrupt regime.

Indonesia has never had a president closer to the people than Joko Widodo. After his inauguration on Monday, for instance, he simply walked onto a crowd of people and talked with them.

Millions of Indonesians in Jakarta and across the country held a merry festival to welcome their new President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Andreas Harsono – Prime Minister Tony Abbott had the opportunity to restart his "more Jakarta, less Geneva" foreign policy when he attended the inauguration of Indonesia's new president

Tom Clarke – Indonesia's incoming president presents a promising opportunity for Australia to recast both its military and human rights relationship with our northern neighbour.

Michael Bachelard – Just a month ago, on the cusp of the end of his long term as Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono trended globally for several days on his beloved social m

Outgoing Deputy Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro has suggested that the incoming government of president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla prioritize

Endy M. Bayuni – When the circus leaves, the whole town would normally be saddened by it.

Kornelius Purba, Opinion – Amid rising concern over the reported plan to block the inauguration of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Jusuf Kalla as the country's president and vice president on

Mohammad Zulfan Tadjoeddin, Sydney – The true level of economic inequality is much higher that its official measurement and something must be done about it.

Indonesians have seen enough violence inflicted by the Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, and witnessed their seeming legal impunity.

Marsen S. Naga, Banda Aceh – The passing of Qanun Jinayat, an Islamic criminal code bylaw, by the Aceh legislative council has revived discussion on the formalization of sharia.

There are concerns that the new government will face a period of political instability as soon as president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla take office o

The House of Representatives, or DPR, and People's Consultative Assembly, or MPR, are two state institutions through which the people's will is supposedly voiced.

Bhatara Ibnu Reza, Sydney – Amid recent debates on the controversial Regional Elections Law, the House of Representatives passed the Military Discipline Law to replace the 1997 Discipli

Amid all the fracas of late, it is hard to believe that things could get any worse in Indonesian politics.

In Indonesia, people have always been forced to vote for figures they do not exactly know as their representatives.

The National Commission on Violence against Women is pushing for the annulment of the new Criminal Code bylaw passed last week in Aceh, as the commission says it does not provide protec

Ary Hermawan, Tucson, Arizona – It is ironic that at a time when it has been hailed as politically mature, reformasi is facing its own death at the hands of the man who was midwife at i

Edited transcript of Herb Feith Annual Memorial Lecture 2014, Melbourne, 20 August 2014

Jess Melvin, Melbourne – Joshua Oppenheimer's latest film is truly shocking.

Just as most Indonesians believe they had entered a new, better era after electing Joko Widodo as their president, they will wake up one of these days realizing they are living under an

In the space of five days, the Red-and-White Coalition has savored two consolation wins that clearly serve as a warning: that despite its failure to secure the presidency, its political

Instead of progressing, Indonesian democracy is regressing after the House of Representatives voted early Friday to seize the right to elect regional leaders from the people and give it

The ugly process by which the House of Representatives reached a decision in the early hours of Friday to pass a bill that takes away from the people the right to vote for regional head

Once dubbed a young, smart and promising politician with the potential to help fill the country's deficit of national leaders, Anas Urbaningrum has instead fallen from grace at just 45

Many have paid too much attention to the heated debate over the controversial bill on regional elections, but have overlooked the equally crucial bill on regional governments, which, if

Jeff Kingston – In July, Joko Widodo, universally known as Jokowi, won a decisive victory in Indonesia's presidential elections.

Evan A.

Evan A.