Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam – When Iraqi journalist Muntader Al-Zaidi threw his shoes at President George W. Bush it was to many, myself included, a deja vu.

As we begin the New Year, we are all asking the same question: What does 2008 have in store for us? Looking at the horizon, one could say plenty.

As the curtains open on the new year we will note down 2007 as the year of a greatly bullish stock market with a rise of over 50 percent in the composite index, making it among the best

Sylvia Yazid, Melbourne – It has been more than three decades since the first wave of Indonesians left the country to work overseas.

At first, they attacked churches and prevented Christians from attending Sunday prayers – and the police largely turned a blind eye.

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – The first day of 2007 was marked by a jetliner going missing, in what some later saw as a sign of things to come: It was the first in what was to be

Karen Michelmore, Jakarta – Australia's relationship with Indonesia is full of new promise.

We cannot help but feel more cynicism toward our parliament, which has no sense of urgency in addressing the real issues.

Leon Agusta, Jakarta – After a disappearance from public attention, the anti-pornography and anti-porn bill has now resurfaced with the new name "Anti-Pornography Bill", when several fa

Is all really quiet on the front line in the war against human rights abuses? Some people in Indonesia certainly think so.

Joe Collins – The 1st of December was West Papuan National Day or National flag day.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – Former three-star general Sutiyoso is Indonesia's epitome of a strong leader, first as Jakarta's military commander and until earlier this year as the capital cit

It was certainly good news for Indonesia that it moved up the latest Human Development Index, the internationally accepted standard for measuring a country's welfare.

Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam – Little news basically came from Sydney's Coroner Court inquest into the deaths of Australian-based journalists in Balibo, East Timor (1975) – except tha

Warief Djajanto Basorie, Jakarta – How much has the Indonesian Military (TNI) changed?

Angus Grigg – It was a day Indonesia's columnists had clearly been looking forward to, and they were brutal.

Ali Darwin and Patrick Guntensperger, Jakarta – Considerable controversy has accompanied the Indonesian government's recent enactment of legislation requiring corporations to participat

Damien Kingsbury – The finding by the NSW deputy state coroner that the five Australia-based newsmen killed at Balibo, East Timor, in 1975 were murdered by the Indonesian military has t

The antitrust body's questionable ruling against Singapore's Temasek Holdings, its subsidiaries and Telkomsel on Monday just added more evidence of the legal uncertainty that has kept m

There is an almost palpable fear in the air of a repeat of the devastating floods that paralyzed almost all of Jakarta in February this year.

Clinton Fernandes – The NSW Coroner's inquest concluded yesterday into the deaths of five journalists at the border town of Balibo in East Timor in October 1975 was the first independen

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has reported steady and sharp increases in new foreign investment approvals amid persistently negative perceptions among foreign businesspeople

Tony Iltis – In 1975, when Indonesia invaded East Timor, beginning a 24-year occupation that cost over 200,000 Timorese lives (over a third of the population), Australia's support for t

The truth about the murder of five journalists at Balibo on October 16, 1975, in the lead-up to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor is one of the longest and saddest cases of governme

Consider the different fates of these two organizations. Both are small and both are trying to propagate their own brand of Islamic teachings.

It's ironic Indonesia refuses to appropriately respond to United Nations' moves to investigate alleged gross crimes against humanity in this country, despite its membership with the Uni

Agus Rakasiwi – The 1998 reform movement finished the task of removing Suharto from the Indonesian presidency. But have Indonesia's problems now ended?

The latest analysis by the International Monetary Fund which portends a weakening global economy could adversely affect Indonesia's economic prospects, which have looked much rosier aft

George Junus Aditjondro, Yogyakarta – The Helsinki peace agreement made on Aug.

The Idul Fitri party is over. People are now returning to Jakarta after spending time – and money – in their hometowns.

Being the religious holiday that it is, the extended Idul Fitri celebration has not left many people with a hangover.

A number of high-profile issues have made headlines in the past month, including the planned construction of the Muria nuclear plant and the political maneuverings ahead of the 2009 pre

Indonesians now know for sure that the state does not tolerate polygamy outside the conditions regulated by law.

Bramantyo Prijosusilo, Ngawi, East Java – The end of September has always been a time of questions throughout Indonesia's political history.

We accept the reality that our economic development lags behind Asian peers such as Malaysia, Thailand and China.

Agung Yudhawiranata, Jakarta – The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) involving Timor Leste and Indonesia is organizing the fifth in its series of public hearings in Dili from Sep

It will be a miracle if, in the next five to 10 years, Indonesian school children can learn about another Timor Leste story.

The manner in which the Supreme Court and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) resolved their dispute through President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's mediation on Saturday does not bode well for

Jon Lamb – On September 12, the new East Timorese government led by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, tabled the Government Program for 2007-12.

Paul Cleary – For a country controlling a maritime region of 15 million square kilometres – more than twice the size of its landmass – Australia has limited powers to stop unlawful expl

Hamish McDonald – Alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summitry last weekend, there was an impressive roadshow from an Asian country that once dominated our regional outlook

It's the season of giving – but you can't give.

The outcome of Timor Leste's parliamentary election could be seen as a political victory for former President and now Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Maryann Keady – The current situation in East Timor makes me think of my first year American Politics essay: 'The American President as Actor; the American Actor as President: Discuss'.

Soeharto repeatedly won condemnation from media organizations around the world for muzzling journalists during much of his time as president.

Paul Cleary – Four years ago, then premier (of Victoria State) Steve Bracks led a solemn procession through the main street of Balibo, East Timor, wearing the headdress and rainbow-colo

Tony Iltis – Former East Timorese prime minister Mari Alkatiri has called for the withdrawal of Australian troops from his country.

This mountain town in Timor's eastern highlands has known its share of horrors and in recent weeks bad times returned with a wave of violent demonstrations and the alleged rape of an 11

Tony Iltis – On August 6, East Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta appointed his predecessor, Xanana Gusmao, prime minister and asked him to form a government without Fretilin, the larg

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – It was President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's third state-of-the-nation address, but whopping figures and complicated words go in one ear and out the other for tho