Goenawan Mohamad, Ubud, Bali – Pramoedya Ananta Toer is no longer with us, but such is his stature that his absence constitutes an assignment.

There is a serious problem in Indonesia that needs to be addressed: People tend to be hypocritical and distrustful of everything.

The Indonesian government recently issued a ministerial decree to implement a citizenship law passed in July.

Ahmad Pathoni, Jakarta – Giving jobs to some 600 military rebels whose dismissal triggered deadly violence in East Timor this year is crucial to resolving a crisis there, the Internatio

East Timor will need to tackle security sector reform to get back on track after deadly unrest earlier this year, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report.

Dili – East Timor violence could return to East Timor ahead of general elections next year, a conflict-prevention group warned Tuesday, recommending that the country's president and for

Choking once again on what has become a yearly haze, Indonesia's neighbors could be forgiven for thinking that Jakarta could care less about other countries in the region.

Endy M.

Four Indonesians have been arrested in the United States charged with conspiring to ship arms illegally to Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas and customers in this country.

Debate about human rights in this country seems to be too often all sound and fury that signifies nothing.

B. Herry-Priyono, Jakarta – The recent exchange of words between former president B. J.

Helen Hill – If accurate, recent revelations by John Martinkus about East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao are disturbing but not altogether unexpected.

Dita Indah Sari, Jakarta – For more then 60 years they have lived overseas after the land where they spilled their blood denied them an entry.

Efforts to stop the unprecedented flow of hot mud in the East Java town of Sidoarjo are continuing, but truly extraordinary measures are needed to help the more than 3,000 affected fami

David O'Brien, Jakarta – The issue of continued slow recovery of the Indonesian economy and in particular the perception of Indonesia as a suitable investment destination has again hit

In communist and authoritarian countries it has been common for rulers to order historians to write official history textbooks is such a way as to dignify those in power and help ensure

Neles Tebay, Rome – The International Crisis Group (ICG) published early this month its report on Papua titled Papua: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Max Lane – Several prominent Indonesian historians have come under criminal investigation for writing an official history textbook in 2004 in which they no longer insisted that the Comm

This week The Australian published an opinion piece by Mark Aarons attacking journalist John Martinkus, and New Matilda, for articles we have published on the recent violence in East Ti

A trial last week at the South Jakarta District Court passed largely unnoticed, although the court's decision indicated a seismic shift in the Indonesian judiciary.

Mark Aarons – East Timor remains unstable, although much calmer than in May and June when it was racked with civil strife.

Thousands mourned, while hundreds of other ran amok in East Nusa Tenggara on Friday over the execution of the three men convicted of leading attacks on Muslims during the 2000 sectarian

John Martinkus – Two weeks ago we revealed written orders from East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao to the rebel commander Alfredo Reinado that showed a close relationship between the

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – The outpouring of foreign aid and donations to Indonesia in the wake of the December 2004 tsunami is being pilfered by corrupt government officials and their affi

Michael Vatikiotis, Jakarta – Two years into his five-year term, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presents himself as a sincere, hard-working reformer, a long-distance runn

The beginning of Ramadhan is only one week away and most Muslims traditionally welcome it with great pleasure.

John Martinkus – Violence that ran over four days in May in East Timor and led to the resignation of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri was part of a plan instigated by the President Xanana G

The ongoing showdown within the Attorney General's Office could raise further doubts about its commitment to law enforcement.

Mark Dodd – Alfredo Reinado, the East Timorese army deserter whose actions ultimately led to the ousting of prime minister Mari Alkatiri, has allegedly received financial help from the

George Quinn – It is hard to describe the air of lassitude that lies like a twilight over Dili. Pigs rifle through piles of rubbish.

Samantha Brown, Jakarta – The Bali bombings brought the horror of September 11 to Asia, but Indonesia took a different approach to the United States in tackling the Al-Qaeda threat whic

Aleksius Jemadu, Bandung – How many innocent people have been killed during Indonesia's delicate transition to democracy? There have been many.

For Suciwati, Soultan Alif Allende and Diva Suukyi Larasati, the widow and children of the late Munir Said Thalib, today (Thursday) is a time of sorrow and remembrance.

Putting decades of armed conflict and the devastating tsunami behind them, the people of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam are now preparing to hold landmark elections on Dec. 11.

John Martinkus – What appear to be written orders from East Timor's President Xanana Gusmao to rebel former soldier Alfredo Reinado confirm the close relationship the now escaped crimin

A quick visit to Dili has sobered the Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer.

A higher level of poverty in the country was expected after the 126 percent hikes in fuel prices last October and the inflationary pressures they generated in other sectors.

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Indonesia's covert action against West Papuan rebels could easily trigger a firefight between Indonesian and PNG forces. And Australia will be dragged into the confrontation.

Soon after the reform movement swept across the nation in 1998, people began realizing the judiciary would be among the toughest institutions to change. It still is today.

A.J. Susmana – It has been 61 years since Indonesia declared itself as an independent nation. But the question so often asked by the cynical is: "Are we really free?".

Houses of worship are an important topic of discussion for many people, as the recent debate over them showed.

Jakarta – For more than two decades, the brutal military occupation of East Timor, a distant, impoverished, peripheral territory, brought Indonesia little but disdain and dishonor on th

The following are the tangible impacts of the hot, toxic mud that has flooded part of the East Java town of Sidoarjo since the end of May: nearly 8,000 people have been displaced, more

Nothing has changed since John Howard's ill-judged and dangerous migration amendment bill was first introduced into the federal parliament in May to suggest it now deserves support.

Andy Alcock – For those who have supported the independence of Timor Leste (TL) for over 30 years, Timorese and others, the events occurring there over the past few months are heartbrea

Gary LaMoshi, Bali – Another high season after another bomb attack, and another struggle to recover for Bali's tourism-driven economy.

Todd Crowell, Hua Hin, Thailand – The turmoil in East Timor and the subsequent deployment of Australian and other peacekeeping troops has prompted much soul-searching, especially among

Jeremy Ballenger – With the present situation slowly heading for political resolution, time has come to consider the next steps for the fledgling government of Australia's newest neighb