Opinion


‘Homicide’ - Anarcho Punk Rock

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009, by madrotter. 33 Comments

The Indonesian anarcho-communist rock band from Bandung, Homicide.

Televised Election Debates

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009, by Ross. 2 Comments

Lacklustre televised presidential debates are a ruling class ruse, rails Ross.

Debt Collection, RCTI Reality TV Style

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009, by Ross. 16 Comments

Ross rails against the techniques of hospital debt collectors on reality television in Indonesia.

Non-visiting Friends & Relatives

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 14 Comments

TRD wonders if expats don’t get (m)any visitors from home.

Frequent Fl(a)yers and Brand (dis)Loyalty

Thursday, May 21st, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 8 Comments

RD on Indonesian airline frequent flyer and loyalty programs, are they the world’s lamest, or just the least used?

300 - Achmad & Ross Insult Duel

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009, by Patung. 147 Comments

Achmad Sudarsono and Ross Mckay, old enemies face off in a virtual insults duel.

Women, Power & Politics

Monday, May 11th, 2009, by Ross. 57 Comments

Women in politics in Indonesia, women politicians and power.

Note-worthy Highlights of Indonesia

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 12 Comments

The travel highlights of Indonesia, as seen on the country’s banknotes and currency.

Jakarta in Top Ten Worst Cities

Friday, April 24th, 2009, by Ross. 84 Comments

Is Jakarta one of the top ten worst cities in the world to live in?

Plane Sailing? Booking Indonesian Flights Online

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 21 Comments

A comparison of Indonesian airlines’ online booking websites.

Aceh Politics

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009, by Ross. 14 Comments

Who is behind the recent violence in Aceh, and the sharia laws, politics in Aceh.

Desperately Seeking Seclusion?

Thursday, April 9th, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 17 Comments

Desperately seeking seclusion? RD on Indonesia’s best deserted beaches.

‘Hareem’, Harem Love Stories

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009, by Ross. 15 Comments

Ross reels at the sight of TV soap Hareem, a harem love story, and wonders whether it is the worst sinetron ever.

Visit Lamongan

Monday, March 30th, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 7 Comments

Visiting Lamongan in East Java, tourist highlights of Lamongan.

Get The Amazing Race - Tourism Promotion Ideas

Thursday, March 19th, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 26 Comments

The Righteous Dude lobs a few ideas for increasing the number of tourists visiting Indonesia, tourism promotion ideas.

Prosperous Justice Party

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009, by Ross. 26 Comments

Ross sees parallels between the Prosperous Justice Party/PKS, and the PKI of old.

Tickets to Ride - Train Travel in Indonesia

Friday, March 13th, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 18 Comments

In Java and some parts of Sumatra, train lines continue to operate commuter services between numerous large and not so large cities of Indonesia.

Land of the 5-Star Resort?

Sunday, March 1st, 2009, by The Righteous Dude. 11 Comments

The Righteous Dude wonders about travel writers’ priorities when selecting Indonesian tourist attraction highlights, is Indonesia the Land of the 5-Star Resort?

Physical Appearance & Work

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009, by Ross. 55 Comments

Employers’ obsession with physical appearance at work.

CIA & FBI Conspiracy Theories

Friday, February 6th, 2009, by Achmad Sudarsono. 202 Comments

Achmad wonders what is behind Indonesia’s trail of natural disasters, is it the CIA and FBI?

Indonesian & Palestinian Refugees

Friday, January 23rd, 2009, by Ross. 12 Comments

Ross rails that faraway Palestinian refugees in the Middle East excite more sympathy than refugees in Lombok.

Mediation Process

Saturday, January 17th, 2009, by Ross. 10 Comments

Mixing Sundanese disco music and Islam is a recipe for trouble in West Java, and community “mediation”, as Ross finds out.

Evictions of Small Traders

Thursday, January 8th, 2009, by Ross. 19 Comments

Ross calls for a boycott of Blok M Square, as small traders are driven out.

Gestapo Tactics & Interrogation

Monday, January 5th, 2009, by Ross. 12 Comments

Ross rails that Gestapo style tactics and methods of interrogation are used by the sharia police in Aceh.

Examples of Media Bias

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008, by Ross. 23 Comments

Article on bias in the media, examples of Islamist bias on television screens in Indonesia.

Diabetes and Obesity

Thursday, December 4th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 54 Comments

Purba on eating habits and foods of the Indonesians, and prevalence of diabetes and obesity.

Religious Differences & Pluralism

Saturday, November 29th, 2008, by Ross. 30 Comments

Ross on the bigotry of teachers of religion in Islamic schools, religious differences and tolerance of pluralism.

Saving the Planet?

Monday, November 24th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 56 Comments

Willie Soon & Christopher Monckton, climate change sceptics, look at weather patterns and temperatures in Indonesia and the “saving the planet” mantra.

Lexie M. Giroth

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008, by Ross. 3 Comments

Ross rails forth against an ex-deacon of IPDN, Lexie M. Giroth, murder cover up convict and now promoted professor.

The Jakarta Globe

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008, by Patung. 30 Comments

Another English language newspaper in Indonesia, the Jakarta Globe.

Pro The Death Penalty

Friday, November 7th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 81 Comments

Treespotter presents the pro death penalty argument, in favour of capital punishment.

Barry Soetoro

Thursday, November 6th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 135 Comments

Purba on Barry Soetoro aka Barack Obama’s Indonesian connection.

Single Mothers in Yogya

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 98 Comments

Clare recounts his daughter’s experience of being a single mother in Yogyakarta.

Tim Pembela Muslim

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, by Ross. 3 Comments

Ross lambasts the legal profession for its tolerance of the Tim Pembela Muslim (TPM), the Muslim Lawyers’ Team.

Justice & Injustice

Monday, November 3rd, 2008, by Ross. 12 Comments

Ross bemoans the fact that FPI leader Habib Rizieq was only jailed for 18 months.

Timor Leste Relations

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 56 Comments

Purba Negoro sees broad sunlit uplands for East Timor-Indonesia relations, and current Australian nefariousness.

Bali Culture

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008, by Guest Writer. 43 Comments

Questions about Balinese culture and the people of Bali.

Monarchy-Sultanate Form of Government

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008, by Ross. 47 Comments

Defending the monarchical principle in government and the Sultanate of Yogyakarta’s special status.

Popular Myths & Madura

Friday, October 3rd, 2008, by Guest Writer. 30 Comments

Timdog on the history, culture, and popular urban myths and stereotypes about Madura and the Madurese.

Idul Fitri Celebrations

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008, by Ross. 15 Comments

Confusion over Eid Al Fitr celebrations and what date they should be held on.

Perceptions of Current Threats

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008, by Guest Writer. 26 Comments

Morgan survey on Indonesian perceptions and anxieties concerning National Unity.

Wahidin Halim, Tangerang

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008, by Ross. 10 Comments

Ross on sharia lite in Tangerang and Mayor Wahidin Halim’s re-election bid.

Dutch War Crimes

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008, by Lairedion. 392 Comments

The Dutch state being sued over war crimes at Rawagede, West Java.

Proper Etiquette for Ramadan

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 36 Comments

A short explanation and some proper etiquette for expats during Ramadan period.

Presidential Debates

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008, by Guest Writer. 40 Comments

A call for a series of public presidential debates.

Expat Charitable Work

Monday, September 1st, 2008, by Guest Writer. 7 Comments

Purba Negoro on how expats in Indonesia can lend a hand by helping and contributing to charitable organizations.

Islam vs Liberal Democracy

Friday, August 29th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 57 Comments

Perseus on Francis Fukuyama and whether Islamism will derail Indonesia’s new liberal democracy.

Learning Javanese Words & Phrases

Thursday, August 28th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 34 Comments

Purba Negoro on the future of Javanese language, and learning some easy words and phrases.

Care for Elderly Jobs, Japan

Monday, August 25th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 11 Comments

Indonesian elderly care nurses for Japan, and the Japanese contribution to Indonesian development.

Old Traditions & Customs

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008, by Ross. 55 Comments

The next target of Islamic fanatics will be old Javanese customs and traditions.

Independence Day

Monday, August 18th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 60 Comments

Purba Negoro celebrates Indonesia’s national independence day.

Maid Abuse

Saturday, August 16th, 2008, by Patung. 71 Comments

Discussion on abuse of Indonesian maids in Singapore and Malaysia.

Subversive Groups & Patriotism

Thursday, August 14th, 2008, by Ross. 14 Comments

Ross questions the motives of subversive Islamic groups sensitivity over Papua.

Niwatakawaca, Rahwana, Cakil & Pasopati

Saturday, August 9th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 23 Comments

The legends of Niwatakawaca, Rahwana, Cakil and Pasopati, and Indonesian defence.

Spiritual Discipline & Fasting

Thursday, August 7th, 2008, by Ross. 30 Comments

Ramadan approaches, again, and Ross complains that religious leaders are intent on spoiling others’ fun and livelihoods.

How to Catch Ms Bule

Monday, August 4th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 83 Comments

Perseus on white girls not going for Asian guys, and differences between white women and Indonesian women.

Death Row Inmates & Debate

Friday, July 25th, 2008, by Ross. 60 Comments

Sinister motives behind renewed debate over the death penalty and convicts on death row.

Dewi Perssik & Wong Telu

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008, by Ross. 7 Comments

TVRI is cheating the nation out of seeing Dewi Persik and Wong Telu.

Indonesians vs. Jakarta Expats

Monday, July 14th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 104 Comments

Hans takes a pictorial look at differences between Indonesians in Jakarta and their western guests.

Munir & Muchdi PR

Friday, June 20th, 2008, by Ross. 56 Comments

BIN chief Muchdi Purwopranjono’s arrest by Indonesian police over the murder of human rights activist Munir.

Malaysia - RI Relations

Friday, June 20th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 14 Comments

Syamsidik says Indonesia gets upset with Malaysia a lot, but the Malaysians don’t pay attention, like in the helipad issue.

Euro Cup 2008

Wednesday, June 18th, 2008, by Lairedion. 37 Comments

Lairedion on the Euro 2008 football championship, and the Indonesian connection.

Literary Parody

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 27 Comments

Pramoedya Ananta Toer is given the literary parody treatment by Timdog.

Religion & Religiosity

Monday, June 16th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 302 Comments

Rima says religion and religiosity are to blame for much of Indonesia’s troubles.

My Friend the Fanatic

Friday, June 13th, 2008, by Patung. 135 Comments

Sadanand Dhume’s My Friend the Fanatic - Travels with an Indonesian Islamist.

Good & Bad Citizens

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008, by Ross. 30 Comments

Frozen Assets - good citizens in suspended animation.

Chinese & Asian Stereotype

Friday, June 6th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 131 Comments

Stereotypes of Chinese in Indonesia, how Asians fare in Australia, and western men who like Asian women.

Jakarta Public Transport

Monday, June 2nd, 2008, by Ross. 11 Comments

Tips for travelling on Jakarta’s buses, the Jakarta public transportation network.

Single Indonesian Women

Monday, May 19th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 106 Comments

Single, overseas educated Indonesian women are faced with prejudice back at home and poor choices on the men front.

May 1998 Jakarta Riots

Friday, May 16th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 128 Comments

The May 1998 riots in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities, mass rapes, anti-Chinese sentiment, and how the rioters came to be viewed.

Informal Transportation - Ojeg

Monday, May 12th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 16 Comments

On whether informal transportation jobs like ojeg driving can provide an adequate livelihood.

Classic Literature Reading Lists

Monday, May 5th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 14 Comments

Indonesians are being denied much of the country’s greatest literature, for political reasons.

Wag the Dog à la Indonesia

Friday, April 25th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 92 Comments

The Indonesian government creates distractions and the media willingly participate, to hide the real problems of Indonesia.

Islamic-Western Civilization

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008, by Guest Writer. 18 Comments

Islamic & Western Civilization, and Muslims and Christians, have much in common.

Modern Day Witch Hunt

Monday, April 21st, 2008, by Guest Writer. 46 Comments

A plea to defend Jamaah Ahmadiyah against a modern day witch hunt.

Hello Dolly! - In Praise of Lokalisasi

Friday, April 18th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 38 Comments

The red light brothel district, or lokalisasi, of Dolly in Surabaya.

Examples of Human Rights Hypocrisy

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 36 Comments

Power-mongering and the profit motive behind the West’s examples of hypocrisy over human rights

Internet Porn Censorship, & Children

Monday, April 14th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 14 Comments

Whether the state or parents have the right and responsibility to censor internet pornography.

Territorial Claims & Rights

Friday, April 11th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 34 Comments

On what gives countries the rights to make territorial claims.

Banality and Compassion

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 12 Comments

Why people should have compassion, and its relation to theology and religion.

Sexy Dewi Persik

Monday, April 7th, 2008, by Ross. 24 Comments

Sexy dangdut singer Dewi Persik.

Curing Homosexuality

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008, by Ross. 79 Comments

The stance of Indonesian clerics against homosexuality and about curing it.

Agama, Adat and Conversion in Nusa Tenggara

Monday, March 31st, 2008, by Guest Writer. 27 Comments

Religion, culture and conversion in Nusa Tenggara.

Jalan Jaksa Under Threat

Friday, March 28th, 2008, by Ross. 147 Comments

Jalan Jaksa in Jakarta is going to suffer re-development.

Representative Democracy & Islam

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008, by Guest Writer. 7 Comments

On the harmony or otherwise between democracy and Islam.

Banned Movie Promised Paradise

Friday, March 21st, 2008, by Lairedion. 13 Comments

The banned movie about the Bali bombings, Promised Paradise.

Self Publish Books in Indonesia

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008, by Ross. 3 Comments

How to self publish books cheaply and easily.

Fitna by Geert Wilders

Friday, March 7th, 2008, by Lairedion. 400 Comments

The gathering storm over Geert Wilders anti-Islam film Fitna.

Literature Commissar

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008, by Ross. 57 Comments

Pramoedya Ananta Toer as a bullying commissar of literature.

Treason of the Intellectuals

Friday, February 29th, 2008, by Ross. 60 Comments

The lovely Julia Suryakusuma, and other intellectuals, commit treason.

RSS
RSS feed
Email

Copyright Indonesia Matters 2006-09