Bruce Gale, Senior Writer – During a visit to Jakarta in August, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith described relations between Indonesia and Australia as having reached a 'histo

Angus Grigg – In less than two months, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari will rise in Oslo's City Hall and formally receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Al Makin, Heidelberg, Montreal – Our honorable members of the House of Representatives seem to put "personal bravado" above long-term national interest in their intention to pass "the a

Yuli Tri Suwarni and Ni Komang Erviani, Bandung, Denpasar – The controversial anti-pornography bill is drawing yet more opposition from various parts of the country, with many fearing t

Evan A. Laksmana, Singapore – The Indonesian Military (TNI) celebrated its 63rd anniversary on Oct. 5. Its formal commemoration, however, will be held on Oct.

A chasm of perceptions, of mind-sets, is unfortunate but inevitable between a people claiming to have been oppressed and those deeply offended by such a claim.

Lindsay Murdoch, Darwin – Trouble appears to be brewing in East Timor again as security forces step up roadblocks and increase security around government buildings.

Who does not think Yogyakarta is special? Only a few who have had the privilege to taste the lifestyle in this ancient city fail to leave enamored.

Paul Toohey – East Timor's fragile political and justice system is again being put to the test with the country's most senior military figure, Brigadier Taur Matan Ruak, facing possible

"... although legislation represents an important start, its role cannot be more than just a beginning.

Damien Kingsbury – The recent announcement by Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon that Australia will co-produce weapons with Indonesia would seem to indicate that, after decade

Veronica Kusuma, Jakarta – Ever since Ayat-ayat Cinta (Verses of love) hit the cinemas, the representation of Islam in Indonesian cinema has created a lively debate.

Pramono U.

Ajay Chhibber, New York – On Sept.

Irawaty Wardany, Jakarta – People are longing and struggling for peace, although it's painful for some.

Jonathan Wootliff – In a new democracy like Indonesia's, there is rightly much concern for human rights.

Even though the government might have some legitimate questions to raise about the accuracy of the latest business climate survey of the International Finance Corporation, the blunt fac

Frenky Simanjuntak, Jakarta – Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Trial by the press, or the press on trial?

Some analysts have again expressed serious concern over increasing foreign ownership of banks in Indonesia, arguing this makes it more difficult for Bank Indonesia (the central bank) to

Ignas Kleden, Jakarta – A political party is there, first of all, to transpose the needs and aspirations of its constituents into a political program.

For millions of ordinary Indonesian people, it is difficult to understand how President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the holder of a doctorate degree in agricultural economics from a prest

Last week's passage of the income tax law is the best Idul Fitri gift the country could provide to our businesses and fellow taxpayers.

Dili – Rosalina Soares has no idea who cut off her fingers. She also has machete scars across her upper back and neck. The middle-aged mother of two lost everything.

The legislative election is half a year away, and yet the existing legislation regulating the electoral process, which is still party- rather than people-oriented, has lately become the

Simon Roughneen, Dili – East Timor's post-independence politics have confounded outside observers, and for the most part the Timorese themselves.

Sam King – This year's May Day demonstrations in Jakarta took on a special significance because they came 10 years after General Suharto was forced by mass street protests to resign as

The government has often seemed powerless in its response to small but noisy (and often violent) groups who use religion as a reason or pretext to take justice into their own hands.

Marcellus Hernowo – As well as celebrities and family members of core political party leaders, the provisional list of legislative candidates that will take part in the 2009 general ele

Politicians in the House of Representatives and leaders of the major political parties are very diligent to criticize the government for dragging its heels while eradicating corruption

The Munir murder case is entering a new stage. These coming weeks Maj. Gen. (ret) Muchdi Pr is standing trial.

Paul Toohey - East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta has delivered a furious tirade against The Australian, accusing it of inventing an article.

Stephen de Tarczynski, Melbourne – East Timor's most prominent independence leaders – currently holders of the young nation's two highest political offices – may now be the main obstacl

John McBeth – Lost in the recriminations over the Commission of Truth and Friendship's (CTF) report on the bloody events surrounding Timor Leste's vote for independence is a singular re

As the battle against corruption intensifies in the legal arena, pressures mount for this acute societal disease to be simultaneously fought in a different mode: through social sanction

Evan A.

Prodita Sabarini, Jakarta – Former homophobe Anton (not his real name) says he has transformed into a more tolerant person, acknowledging that gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transvest

Sahil K. Mahtani – As if to illustrate the universality of poor taste, the former chief of the Indonesian Special Forces Gen.

It's a great story that makes the world go 'round – apart from love and money. A story that feeds the insatiable human need for information on the condition of others.

Julia Suryakusuma, Jakarta – Vivienne, an old friend of mine from Singapore, came to visit last week. I had just watched a Chinese kung fu DVD and Viv noticed the cover.

We are flabbergasted to learn that the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is continuing to lobby the government for an indiscriminate tax amnesty it claims to be vital

"Indonesia on execution spree", reads the headline of a wire service reporting on six such executions in the past month.

Our dried voices, when
We whisper together
Are quiet and meaningless

- TS Eliot, The Hollow Men

HS Dillon, Jakarta – The report of the joint Commission for Truth and Friendship, recently presented to the two heads of state who established the body, could certainly be lauded for en

Mike Steketee, National Affairs Editor – Downer's achievements as our longest serving foreign minister aren't all he claims and must be balanced against some calamitous mistakes

Warren Reed – By any measure, our intelligence agencies are the eyes and ears of the nation.

Aboeprijadi Santoso, Jakarta – The final report of the Indonesia-Timor Leste Truth and Friendship Commission (CTF), titled Per Memoriam ad Spem (Through memory toward hope) is a politic

Eko Waluyo, Sydney – At the handover of a report by the joint Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) in Bali, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono accepted the rep

Amid the growing number of legislators arrested for corruption allegations, House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono has accepted the public criticism against the legislative body

Sahil K. Mahtani – Unlike his predecessors, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono can hardly be accused of shooting from the hip.