Mega 2009

… Other figures who have been mentioned in the past:

Agung Laksono
Jusuf Kalla
Din Syamsuddin

Megawati's best chance of success is thought to lie in an alliance with Hidayat Nurwahid of the PKS (Partai Keadilan Sejahtera), with Maruarar Sirait of the PDIP suggesting the two would be an unbeatable team, with the PKS strong in the towns, the PDIP strong in the villages.
Hidayat Nur Wahid
However Mohamad Nabil of the Centre for Religion and Culture at UIN says …

Comment author: Odinius

Comment by Odinius: If she picks Din or HNW, it will just underscore …

World Peace Forum (WPF)

… Ali Taskhiri, of the Global Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Iran
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, of the Pontifical Council for inter-religious Dialogue, Vatican
Ven. Master Chin Kung of Amitabha Buddhist Society, Australia
Amina Rasul-Bernardo, of the Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy

and

Anwar Ibrahim, politician, Malaysia
Xanana Gusmao, president of East Timor

Some well-known campaigners for world peace who would have loved to …

Comment by Jens Arni: … including the religious institutions, humans …

My Friend the Fanatic

… works showing a pre-occupation with Jews, conspiracy theories and George Bush, and including:

Sabili style.

Belajar Islam dari Yahudi ("Learning Islam from Jews" - seems to be a critique of the Orientalist approach to Islam)
Mossad (Behind every conspiracy)
Kebangkitan Freemason dan Zionis di Indonesia ("The Rise/Resurgence of Freemasonry & Zionism in Indonesia")
Jejak Freemason dan Zionis di Indonesia ("Acts of Freemasons & Zionists in …

Comment by santana: Islam Understanding ( Kaffah/totalitas) with …

Diana Abbas Thalib

… Kemang. She has one child from a previous marriage (her husband died) and on May 10th, the wedding day, will come into possession of four more, from Hidayat's marriage to Kastrian Indrawati.

Kastrian Indrawati died on January 22nd 2008 and Hidayat says:

From the day she died it was proper that people made suggestions [for a replacement].

Diana was introduced to Hidayat by another Justice Party politician Yoyoh Yusroh, who is her religious instructor, a month ago. Diana and …

Comment by Patung: … seems on their wedding day they got 130 million rupiah, …

Israeli Palestinian Conflict

… In early December of 2007 five representatives of Indonesian Islamic organisations, including Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, travelled to Israel and met its president, Shimon Peres, their trip sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the LibForAll Foundation.

Shimon Peres said he was very happy to receive the clerics and hoped that some Indonesians would visit the country in May 2008, to pray for peace while celebrating the 60th anniversary of Israel's foundation. …

Comment by Arie Brand: … Jewry, according to this theory, are descendents of …

Sutiyoso

… .

Sutiyoso, looking presidential.

He told a gathering of hundreds of people attending his "political declaration" at the Four Seasons Hotel in South Jakarta that after 10 years as Jakarta's governor he was ready to lead the country, 2009- 2014.

I dare to name myself a presidential candidate because, first, I've received support from a number of political parties and leading figures, especially in the last year. Secondly, because I feel called on to continue serving the …

Comment by Janma: … help control flooding and the dengue fever in jakarta, …

Priyo Budi Santoso

… of this Golkar was planning on meeting with lots of religious leaders around the country, including the Churches' Association, (Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja Indonesia, PGI), Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and Muhammadiyah, republika in addition to the MUI, in order to:

prevent the break-up of the country through sectarian differences, and to create inter-faith tolerance and harmony.

Umar Shihab of the MUI said what was needed now was a guarantee of religious freedom, freedom to worship, …

Sharia Application

… theft in an area for which the state was responsible would not suffer hand amputation, but in ordinary theft cases hand amputation would occur.

Meanwhile, in the interests of the further application of sharia law, the PBB is inviting clerics from throughout the country and well-known figures such as Muhammadiyah leader Din Syamsuddin, NU leader Hasyim Muzadi, Majelis Ulama Indonesia leader Ma'ruf Amin, Siddiq Amin of Persatuan Islam (Persis), and representatives of Dewan Dakwah, …

Comment by Riyoz: … to them….regarding taxes, even today we all pay …

Pasuruan Bomb

… on the Sidoarjo mudflow disaster and weren't paying attention to terrorists. detik

Din Syamsuddin.

Meanwhile Muhammadiyah leader Din Syamsuddin on 12th August advised the police to thoroughly investigate the case, but not to connect the bombing with Islam. There could be no connection to Islam because Islam was very much opposed to terrorism, he said. mediaindo

So during the investigation if they arrest terrorists then don't connect them with any religion, …

Comment by Aluang Anak Bayang: … I am aware by reading and learning the contents of the …

Hizb ut-Tahrir

… number of mainstream Indonesian Muslim leaders attended, and sometimes addressed the crowd, including Din Syamsuddin of Muhammadiyah, and randy preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar or Aa Gym.

Aa Gym said Hizb ut-Tahrir should be accepted because they were not violent.

Din Syamsuddin.

Din Syamsuddin, who was not killed in the Garuda crash of March this year, said the idea of a caliphate was fine as long as it recognised the unitary state of Indonesia and the pluralism of the country. …

Comment by Tomaculum: … being insulted reading such useless arguments. Such …

Inter-Parliamentary Union

… violation of the basic law of Indonesia, which forbids colonialism. antara

Muhammadiyah's Din Syamsuddin said the delegation could come provided the invitation was sent out by the IPU and not the Indonesian government. He hoped Indonesia could use the IPU event to: antara

convey our stance that we oppose and strongly protest the Israeli miliatry`s occupation and control of Palestine and all the cruelties they have done to the Palestinian people.

However a later report has …

Comment by McFadden: … and exceedingly! By the way, I’m Indonesian …

Merry Christmas

A Muhammadiyah university lecturer was fired for recommending the saying of "Merry Christmas".

Radio Netherlands claims that Mohammad Shofan, a lecturer at Muhammadiyah "Gersik" (Gresik, East Java presumably) UMG university was dismissed by the university council because he had written a paper titled "Natal dan Pluralisme" (Christmas and Pluralism) in which he stated that saying "Merry Christmas" is a form of respect to Jesus, Jesus being a …

Comment by Irfan: … is a misunderstanding of information on the case of Mr. …

Sunni vs Shia

… Conference, did join the conference.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda and Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said they don't why the Iraqi clerics failed to attend. The organizers of the meeting had invited Iraqi Sunni leader Mahmood Al Sumai Dai and Shiite Imam Sayed Qodruddin Al Qubbanji. Said Hassan:

We contacted Iraqi representatives in the United Nations. They said they would send five Shiite and Sunni ulema from Iraq to the meeting, but eventually they did not attend.

Iraq …

Comment by Mitch L GOld: … It is worth reading about - foregiveness, is called …

Garuda Crash

A Garuda plane burst into flames upon landing in Yogyakarta.

A Garuda Indonesia jetliner, flight GA 200, a Boeing 737-400 craft, carrying 140 people, caught fire upon landing at Adisucipto airport in Yogyakarta, Central Java.

One of the passengers was an old friend of this site, Din Syamsuddin, sitting in seat 7D. Din says he feels as if he was saved by the Almighty. antara (Din Syamsuddin's mother-in-law is …

Comment by Dimp: … of cockpit recording from the initial investigation in …

Poso Fighting

… cells. mediaindo

One report suggests the men killed belong to a group called "Mujahidin Karamanya". detik Last week two suspected militants and one policemen were killed in similar fighting, see Poso Jihad.

______________

24th January

Police are continuing hunting for militants in Poso. Central Sulawesi Police Brigadier General Badrodin Haiti blamed terrorists for triggering the clash by throwing handmade explosives at police. He said his office had issued …

Comment by KSJ: … I’ll be reading other reports about this so I …

Abangan

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin plans to reach out to the lower class "abangan" supporters of the PDI-P.

After the formation of Baitul Muslimin late in 2006 Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin continues his efforts to reach out to the "abangan" supporters of the PDI-P, Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan.

Speaking to a gathering of the leaders of the Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN) on the 19th of …

Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year is a time for moderation in religion, say Hasyim Muzadi and Din Syamsuddin.

In a joint press conference on the 19th to mark Islamic New Year both Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) leader Hasyim Muzadi and Muhammadiyah head Din Syamsuddin argued for a moderate form of Islam as a way of building national unity.

According to the Jakarta Post they spoke of the importance of promoting "Ukhuwah Islamiyah", or unity among Muslim communities, and stressed that the …

Comment by 1ndra: … and understanding between all religion.

Porn Sites

… Muhammadiyah leader Syafi'i Maarif, generally considered to be more relaxed in his understanding of Islam than the current Muhammadiyah boss, Din Syamsuddin, urges the government to take action against web porn sites.

Syafi'i Maarif.

Indonesia was lagging behind its neighbours Singapore and Malaysia in the interception of internet porn, he said in Jakarta on the 20th during a discussion entitled "Peran Pemuka Agama Dalam Pengembangan Keluarga Sejahtera", or the Role of …

Comment by Mohammed Khafi: … a proper understanding of the verses, these after all are …

Maria Eva

… Java, is the dangdut singer and sometime sinetron actress who appeared in the raunchy sex recording with Golkar parliamentarian Yahya Zaini.

Her name has cropped up here once before, when she was reported to have attended a gathering of the Muhammadiyah branch of Surabaya on November 11th 2006 whereupon it was announced by Din Syamsuddin that a Muslim (inner) beauty contest would be held. Maria, along with other local celebrities, Cici Tegal, Yolanda Yusuf, and Ozzy Saputra, put in …

Comment by Kazza: … lot of them…including the Ladies..the whole lot like to …

Partai Matahari Bangsa

… were given.

Despite the fact that members of his group founded the party Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin says the PMB is nothing to do with his organisation. If members want to form political parties on their own that is their right as citizens, he says. antara

The leader of the South Sumatra branch of Muhammadiyah, Novrizal, agrees and says that many of the aspirations of Muhammadiyah people are yet to be satisfied politically and that is the reason for the party's foundation. …

Miss Muslimah

Muhammadiyah is planning to enter the world of pageants.

Din Syamsuddin, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, says that in February of 2007 a Miss Muslimah Indonesia contest will be held, in direct and deliberate competition with the Miss Indonesia contest (Putri Indonesia). The reason, says Din, is that pornography has to be tackled not just in an intellectual, critical way, but also in a practical way. The Miss Muslimah competition will be one means of …

Comment by Message from God: … quoted from the reading “Din received the support of a …

Baitul Muslimin

… Pramono says the name, the Baitul Muslimin, was chosen for the party by Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin, while Din was at a fast-breaking party at Megawati Soekarnoputri's home in Kebagusan last month. tempo (Some people appear to be suspicious of the Din connection. ppiindia )

Pramono Anung.

Pramono says that the formation of the new group will not change the basis of the PDI as a nationalist, Pancasila-affirming, party, but will just add an extra dimension. He …

Comment author: Omang Komarudin

Causes of Poso Strife

… is a national struggle between democracy and militarism.

Meanwhile Muhammadiyah chairman Dien Syamsuddin, who a commenter on this site pointed out recently is unable to keep his mouth closed for even a very brief period, it seems, believes that foreigners are at least partly to blame for the problems in Poso. He said on the 22nd that foreign aid organisations that were ostensibly in Poso to help with the economic recovery process were also likely to be trying to sow the seeds of …

Comment by Riccardo: According to this story just published by …

Quantity, Quality & Power

… numerically superior in Indonesia but quantity does not lead to quality, says Muhammadiyah boss Din Syamsuddin, nor does it lead to power, says Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.

Despite the fact that Muslims were overwhelmingly the majority in Indonesia their contribution to the nation was not in accord with their numbers. Din said :

Even though Muslims make up a majority compared to other religious groups they are left behind in various fields in terms of their quality and …

Comment by Karlira Kanakahuko: … Asians, inclyding all non-Muslim Indonmesians only.

Danish Cartoon Crisis II

… not allow people to insult others. Especially during Ramadan Muslims demanded respect, he said.

Din Syamsuddin of Muhammadiyah recommended that Muslims seek a legal path of redress for this insult, for example by taking the matter to the International Court. He said the cartoons were an attempt to provoke Muslims and make them lose control.

In another report Din said that western atheism was to blame, atheists could not understand God. Those who supported the rights of people to …

Comment by Hassan: … them to react according to how you wanted them to react.

Atambua Protests

… one, have been attacked. The main Atambua market has also been burned down and all roads leading into and out of the town have been blocked by protestors. The protests began at about 6am but by about 11am the situation had calmed.

A prison in the town was also attacked and 190 inmates were thereby able to escape. Another 15 decided to stay put.

Meanwhile in Sulawesi some roads in and around the Christian town of Tentena, near Poso, were blocked by protestors who set old car …

Comment by Peace: … of Muhammadiyah, Din Syamsuddin, advised people not to …

Papal Speech

… how the abandonment of reason, or logos, had led to the secularisation of western society. According to the Pope reason is not opposed to faith but instead thrives on it, even needs it.

Pope Benedict XVI & Some Robed Men.

During the speech he quoted from a recent book by Professor Theodore Khoury, an expert on the Byzantine civilization, who has reprinted the text of a late Middle Ages dialogue between a Byzantine emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, and a Persian Muslim. In the …

Comment by Rockstar: … want to say, including every single person in this blog. …

Female Circumcision

… and one way of being clean is to be circumcised.

Amidhan was not the only one of this opinion. Syamsuddin Hasan, from the Majelis Wilayah Korps Alumni Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (KAHMI) in South Kalimantan agreed that female circumcision must not be forbidden by the authorities.

I fear that the attempt to ban it [female circumcision] is part of the mission of a certain group who deliberately use the health excuse, to the point where Muslim women will not be clean because they haven't …

Comment by Jaffar: … up to beheading, boiling in oil or whatever …

Israel’s Rejection

… Indonesian participation, he added.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda said that the sending of Indonesian troops to Lebanon should not wait on the Israeli government's approval as the area where the troops would be deployed is in Lebanon, not in Israel.

According to the assistant to the UN Secretary General, the UN peacekeeping troops are deployed in Lebanon, not in Israel. So, the sending of troops to Lebabon needs no approval from Israel.

Wirajuda also said that the …

Comment by Hassan: … got your sources siding with and using Israel and …

Paroxysms of Outrage

… would create an unquenchable thirst for revenge among the victims.

The chairman of Muhammadyah, Din Syamsuddin, says that Israel's aggression constitutes acts of terrorism and is a clear violation of human rights.

Israel's behaviour is a form of terrorism and such aggression has to be stopped.
(Tindakan Israel itu adalah bentuk terorisme yang nyata dan agresi ini harus dihentikan.)

He said this at a press conference regarding the upcoming meeting of the World Peace Forum in …

Comment by Ulf: … interested in avoiding them. They did not want. Israel …

Lebanese Jihad

… had been recorded as having signed up for jihad duties under the banner of the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia ( MMI ) and assisted by the Committee for the Application of Islamic Laws, Komite Penegak Syariat Islam (KPSI). Registration had opened on 31st July. By 8th August their number had grown to 57. To qualify as jihadists the men had to be of sound mind and body, have identification cards, and really wish to wage war for Islam, said Irfianda Abidin of the KPSI. Those still of school …

Aceh as the Base

… that Aceh may be the springboard for groups such as the PKS to dominate other areas.

Otto Syamsuddin Ishak explains to Radio Netherlands about the activities of radical Islamic groups such as the PKS, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera, and the Hizb-ut-Tahrir.

Otto says that all the campuses in the capital, Banda Aceh, have been "taken over" by members of the PKS and Hizb-ut-Tahrir, including the universities of Syiah Kuala and IAIN Ar-Raniry. Both groups are newcomers to the political …

Comment by O. Bule: … as a means of spreading their doctrines. O. Bule

Israel & Lebanon II

… from part I and the Palestinian cause.

Jihad

Muhammadiyah advises against sending any jihadists to Palestine & Lebanon. The United Nations should be relied upon to resolve the problems, Muhammadiyah leader Din Syamsuddin said on 28th July. But, he said, those who did go to Lebanon could not be classed as suicide bombers, suicide bombing being sinful. In any case he doubted that any Indonesian had already gone there due to the difficulty and expense of doing so. …

Ban Playboy

… the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), has asked the government to ban Playboy magazine.

Din Syamsuddin, of the MUI, said :

If need be the president himself should take firm action.
(Kalau perlu Presiden sendiri yang bertindak tegas.)

Din said Playboy had violated the law in that it was obscene. What's more it was distributed in an unrestricted manner, freely available on the streets to anyone, including children, and it was not enclosed in plastic.

He said he supported …

Comment by Hassan: … which is degrading both for the women and the men. …

The Jakarta Charter

… [The Indonesian state is based on] Belief in the one supreme God with the obligation to live according to Islamic law for Muslims.

After being furiously debated for a number of years under president Sukarno, the Jakarta Charter question was forcibly removed from the domain of public discussion under Suharto. Since the fall of Suharto however, and the consequent freeing up of political life in the country that ensued, the issue has made a return to the political stage, even until …

Comment by Zecky: … whole country including the largely-Christian east and …

Israel & Lebanon

… the fund, but directly to the Palestinian mission in Jakarta. The leader of Muhammadiyah, Prof Dr Din Syamsuddin, said :

This is not just about trampling on a nation's sovereignty, it's also a matter of human rights, breaking human rights agreements, breaking United Nations conventions, and other forms of terrorism.
(Ini bukan saja menginjak-injak kedaulatan negara, tetapi juga melanggar Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM), melanggar perikemanusiaan, melanggar konvensi-konvensi PBB, dan sebagai …

Comment by TOAR: … they con the ordinary Palestinian’s on selling their …

Critiques of Moderate Indonesia

… she mends her wicked ways. Her possible crime? The Jakarta housewife wears miniskirts.

Keep reading Miniskirts Clash With Islam as Indonesia Drafts Pornography Law.

The Asia Times has a far meatier piece which deals in part with the tennis boycott of Israel and the recent visit by Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Both issues reveal the essential weakness of the leadership of Indonesia, its failure to take bold steps, its lack of innovation under President Susilo Bambang …

Comment by Masindi: … who are mostly reading al-Quran like a technical manual. …

Social Issues

… tensions within society over the new emphasis on laws to control issues of morality. Read.

Din Syamsuddin, president of Muhammadiyah, warns about the rise of Islamic extremism in Indonesia in the Washington Times.

A report on a new film, Berbagi Suami ("Sharing a Husband"), discussing the issue of polygamy from the woman's perspective in the Financial Times.

Tony Blair & Moderate Islam

… category.

Blair met with Azyumardi Azra, the rector of the State Islamic University, and Din Syamsuddin, leader of the country's second largest Muslim group Muhammadiyah, among a couple of other moderates. Both men told Blair that the presence of western troops in Iraq was the root of all problems there and that Britain should pull out. Din Syamsuddin is reported to have added later:

He didn't respond specifically to our requests, but hopefully tonight he will wake up and realize …

Russia & Islamic World

… the Islamic world can be treated as one bloc, as some sort of clever strategy to shore up their fading influence on world events. It appears some people in Indonesia are enthusiastic about the prospect as well.

There are several reports in the Indonesian press today, suaramerdeka , mediaindo , for example, about the upcoming meeting interfax on the 27th and 28th of this month between Russian and Islamic leaders in Moscow. The Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President …

Denmark Tells Danish Citizens to Leave Indonesia

… to leave the country forthwith because they were facing "a significant and imminent danger", adding that the threat was focused on the eastern part of the island of Java, but could spread to other parts of the country, including Bali.

According to Din Syamsuddin, the chairman of the Muhammadiyah organisation, most of the protests in Indonesia against the cartoons are being orchestrated by a "a certain person", although he did not name him but stated that domestic political factors are …

The Clash of Christianity & Islam

… chairman of Muhammadiyah, which is a modernist Islamic social group with about 25 million members, Din Syamsuddin, said that religious harmony was difficult in Indonesia because Christianity and Islam were by nature proselytising faiths and naturally collided with each other.

Looking to protect his turf Syamsuddin said:

The idea of dissemination is crucial and Islam and Christianity are both expansionist. If we give them a free market there will be conflicts. In order to have peace …

Comment by PerempuanRantau: … their own understanding are the right one. Coming from a …

Ahmadiyah Lombok

… doesn't have the courage to uphold the Constitution. How can we be a great (nation) without upholding the Constitution?

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin also chimed in with his usual blathering about how true Muslims never commit violence:

It was an un-Islamic act. No religion justifies violence as a means to resolve differences in faiths.

Ahmadiyah Indonesia spokesman, Syamsir Ali, said:

We live in a country where every criminal should be arrested and put on trial, but …

Muhammadiyah Offer Places for Christians

… the second largest Muslim social group in the country and of a modernist bent, has offered buildings it owns such as schools and halls for the use of Christians on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Said the Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin:
We invite our Christian brothers and sisters to say prayers on Christmas Eve and to celebrate Christmas in our schools and other buildings.
Since 2004 over forty churches in west Java have been forcibly closed by Muslim radicals and …

Best Rated Universities

Three Indonesian institutions make it into the top 500 world's best universities list.

Put out by the Times Higher Education and QS World University Ranking a ranking of the 500 best universities worldwide has Indonesia represented by: topuniversities.com

University of Indonesia (UI) - 287th
Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) - 315th
Gajah Mada University (UGM) - …

Comment by Jeames: … and according to some importance has one in the …

Interbank Credit Crisis

… After the political heat they received from conservatives for the bailout and shotgun weddings of Bear Sterns and Merrill Lynch they decided to placate their critics and play hardball with Lehman.

The ensuing firestorm threatened like falling dominos to bring the world’s financial system to collapse. Some of the repercussions of that ill fated decision included:

“Breaking the Buck” in Money Market Funds. Money market funds had never before fallen below $1 in face …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … According to CNN’s “Mad Money”: US-UK …

Monarchy-Sultanate Form of Government

Ross defends the monarchical principle and the Sultan of Yogyakarta's authority.

Sultans Rule!

The Jakarta Post on Friday 10th October published an articulate but virulent attack thejakartapost on the monarchical principle, centred on the position of the Sultan of Jogjakarta, HamengkuBuwono X . I took particular notice of this for two reasons, viz., I am a dyed-in-the-wool …

Comment by timdog: … of “an expanding cloud of localised, fragile, …

Atheist Threat

Young atheists on the internet, and eradicating atheism and communism in Indonesia.

Governor of North Sumatra, Syamsul Arifin , said on 8th October at an occasion marking Pancasila Day that all elements of the nation must continually fight against and eradicate atheist beliefs among the people.

Atheism, which seeks to erase Pancasila and which once threatened the nation in the guise …

Comment by Marisa: … the factors standing in their and each other’s way. …

Vitriol & Hate Speech

A vitriolic attack on the presence of foreign experts and smelly expat workers in Jakarta.

"Cheesy Girl", it seems an Indonesian in Jakarta who lives and works among expatriates, and once had a westerner boyfriend who had a rash on his stomach and stank of fish, writes in her blog about bules or westerners/ expats in Indonesia , that they

are not experts in anything
are …

Comment by Rob: Syed… By reading lomboksurfer’s posts it seems he …

World Football Codes

As predicted by Andy, a "world football codes" topic, split off from US Financial Crisis, including stuff on the state of America, the Iraq war, references to ABBA songs, and a possibly blossoming cyber romance.

Comment by Andy: … by virtue of attending public schools. Ever noticed how …

Popular Myths & Madura

… just seemed like a lot of fun.

On a final note however, before anyone asks, I must make it clear that I know nothing about their women…

[rss]This is a post from the Indonesia Matters website.[/rss]

Comment by Berlian Biru: … been hung in boarding houses rather than pubs (no self …

Idul Fitri Celebrations

… date Eid Al Fitr celebrations should be on.

Dictating Dates

I had barely finished sending seasonal smses to Muslim friends and associates on Idul Fitri morning when my mildly ecumenical impulse was short-circuited. The spark came from the morning news, reporting another piece of abject arrogance on the part of this increasingly authoritarian regime we live under.

It is a rare day indeed when I have any hint of empathy for Hizbut Tahrir, but to learn that they were being …

Comment by Andy: … move but Kelapa Gading is also a good spot albeit a bit …

US Financial Crisis

The US financial crisis opens the door for alternative economic models, like sharia finance.

The current crisis in the US and European financial and banking sectors is proof that the western capitalist model is a failure, says sharia economics expert Syakir Sula in Jakarta.

Syakir Sula

Syakir, former head of the Asosiasi Asuransi Syariah Indonesia (AASI), who is from Palopo, …

Comment by Marisa: … for extending investment tax credit program for …

Perceptions of Current Threats

… tell you Human Rights, Liberal Democracy, Autonomy was all trite centre-page wipe-able lavatory reading material for Western armchair revolutionary and other such lowlife.

Churchill himself stated: "the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter".

The Rakyat could not possibly care less for these Acehnese seditionist or Irian agitator nor the rights of an overweening, over-privileged minority. They want food, work and security.

Democracy …

Comment by Purba NEgoro: … starts funding Mabo cases on lucrative mine sites …

Partial Privatization & IPO’s

… Garuda which desperately needs a fresh infusion of capital to update its aging fleet is intending to tap the investment market at precisely the same time as other state owned carriers are in serious financial trouble around the world. Alitalia, the Italian majority state owned airline will probably be grounded by the end of this week. Olympic Airways looks as though it may next and Aerolineas Argentina has been forced back into state control after its failed partial privatization. Now is …

Comment by sputjam: … with neither holding majority.

PKS Social Services

Some of the ways the PKS attempt to win the hearts and minds of ordinary people and voters.

Some of the recent pseudo campaign/electioneering tactics that the Justice Party (PKS, Partai Keadilan Sejahtera), has carried out, many of which their rivals don't seem to attempt, or be even capable of.

For Women

In early July 2008 at Pasar Induk, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, the PKS launched a program to fund womens' small business activities (Program …

Comment by Sylvester: … Majelis Mujahidin, etc. Is it becoming less radical …

What is Racism?

… Just like their Tempo and Jakarta Post- self-serving or self-aggrandising pulp fictions.

Comment by Purba Negoro: … aside from recordings available by Peripuls, Gramedia …

Porn Laws in English

… to read and discuss in informed manner.

Planned Legislature of Republik Indonesia Regarding Pornography

Chapter 1:
Definitions:
1. Pornography [sic shorthand 'Porn' from now on] is sexual material that is made by humans by form of picture, sketch, illustration, photo, writings, vocalizations, sounds, moving picture, animations, cartoon, rhymes/poems/prose/verse, lewd sexual gestures (straddling, blowing kisses, miming oral sex), eurythmics or lewdness deliberately …

Comment by Callum: … want to live according to their religion. its democracy …

Socially Inclusive

Two religion based political parties deciding to become more diverse and inclusive, or not.

PDS

The Partai Damai Sejahtera (PDS), Prosperous Peace Party, a Christian party with a small number of seats in the national parliament, recently decided to formally open itself up to non-Christian members and candidates.

Party chairman Denny Tewu announced last month that 20% of candidates would be Muslim by the 2009 …

Comment by Marisa: … agents. According to how they see it, people are …

Muslim Dating & Courting Rituals

… done.

Hidayat and Diana met each other three times over a period of three weeks, before deciding to marry. Diana said, just before getting married:

Maybe we'll get to know each other better when we're married.

Taaruf, online version.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) leader Amidhan suggests the way that Hidayat and Diana became known to each other and thereafter married is a good example of the Islamic way of courting and marriage. In Islam, he says, there is no such thing …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … is very busy minding everyone elses’ business but …

Wahidin Halim, Tangerang

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

Establishment Kow-Towing to the Worst

A week or so ago, the Jakarta Post reported that the Mayor of Tangerang, Wahidin Halim, was being supported in his bid for re-election by a constellation of establishment parties, most of whom are not generally regarded as fanatic. Yet this civic leader is surely the self-same man who has presided over the enactment of …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … soon, but according to Independent Polls the majority …

Pornography Laws

… terhadap pembuatan, penyebarluasan, dan penggunaan pornografi; dan c.melakukan kerja sama dan koordinasi dengan berbagai pihak, baik dari dalam maupun dari luar negeri, dalam pencegahan pembuatan, penyebarluasan, dan penggunaan pornografi. Pasal 20 Untuk melakukan upaya pencegahan sebagaimana dimaksud dalam Pasal 18, Pemerintah Daerah berwenang: a.melakukan pemutusan jaringan pembuatan dan penyebarluasan produk pornografi atau jasa pornografi, termasuk pemblokiran pornografi melalui …

Comment by indahs: … by first reading the term of pornography as …

Effeminate Men

The MUI's laundry list of complaints about television programming this Ramadan, including effeminate male roles.

In reviewing the fare on television this Ramadan the Muslim clerical body Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), in cooperation with the Department of Communications (Badan Informasi Pubik Depkominfo) and the Broadcasting Commission (Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia, KPI), managed to find 805 inappropriate scenes on television, featuring:

violence
mysticism …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … Pasar Malem, wedding, circumcision, etc. The very …

The Perfect Woman

The perfect woman, and...other things, split from How to Get a Bule Man …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … and Scots avoiding pork completely. Indonesians are …

God is Dead

… western anti-orthodox religion philosophy.

In an article from August 2008, Ahmad Sahidin, a former student of the Aqidah & Filsafat (Islam & Philosophy) faculty at IAIN (Institut Agama Islam Negeri) Sunan Gunung Djati (SGD) Bandung and now a teacher of the same discipline at IAIN, makes some reference to controversies at IAIN in 2004, where some students were recorded making provocative statements such as

God is dead

Achmad says that in studying Akidah & …

Comment by Erin M Ballantine: … the world and deciding that their religion is true? …

Kevin Bloody Wilson

… him.

Since his smash-hit 1984 album, "Your Average Australian Yobbo", Kev has proven his fair-dinkumness (authenticity) as a true Australian by refusing to bow to the warriors of political correctness.

Kev has defied the self-appointed custodians of Australian literature and music by focusing on themes that obsess ordinary Australians everywhere, drinking beer, rootin', farting, and amusing themselves by stringing together obscene words.

Some of the more famous songs include: …

Comment by Rob: … Gotta say that standing around doing nothing, saying …

Miserable People

… the apparent unfriendliness of bules, and just approach them if they feel like it. javajive.com

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … on us. Just kidding. Wouldn’t take it to heart. …

Key to Success

… principles.

Heru Sriwidodo Sari.

After this period of dominance, and likely near-coinciding with what is called "the great divergence" - when northern/western Europe began streaking ahead of the Arab and Asian worlds in scientific, technological, and economic achievements - Heru says Muslims neglected the Quran and herein lay the seeds of their failure until today.

In order to achieve success in this life and the next Heru said only seven verses of the Al Fatihah chapter of the …

Comment by Andy: … spread from breeding. Buddhism also continues to grow, …

Cow Sex

… an elderly resident of Julah village in Tejakula, Buleleng, Bali, in early August was seen holding the backside of a cow, and it seems having sex with the animal.

The person who spied Sutarya was said to be a young, beautiful local girl. Upon seeing her Sutarya waved and called out, the girl came over and Sutarya engaged in some conversation with her, but continued his mating efforts with the cow. beritabali

A cow.

Local people are said to believe that their entire …

Dutch War Crimes

… and recognition for their suffering, as announced by their lawyer Mr. Gerrit Jan Pulles.

According to Pulles it is for the first time Indonesian victims of the fighting of 1945-1949 hold the Dutch State responsible. Mr. Pulles acts on behalf of ten villagers from Rawagede, West Java. They survived the bloody attack of the Dutch Army on 9 December 1947. According to the Dutch Honorary Debts Foundation, 431 (almost all the male) villagers were slaughtered. According to the Dutch Indulgence …

Comment by Adrian Vickers: … I wasn’t providing a definitive list of Dutch …

Proper Etiquette for Ramadan

… watsalya - desire to be a parent

Mastery over all of these creates a state of readiness for Nirwana - heaven.

In Kejawen belief system - heavily influenced by the Hindu, the Buddhist and very probably pre-existing belief - self-harm and self-sacrifice are a requisite to attaining one's true wishes. In the Kejawen mind fasting is very much like the Hindu kiyamana karma - attaining a higher self through self-deprivation.

Ramadan Etiquette for non Muslims:

Although …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … including a school for sekretaris- I assume …

Barack Obama Childhood

Discussion on Barack Obama 's childhood and schooling in …

Comment by Michael Bryant: … Are you still reading Mao’s Little Red Book ? Spout …

Beach Parties & Riding Pillion

… would get busy in making a law to forbid beach-going before and during Ramadan. antara

Riding Pillion

One week later our hero Faisal had another complaint, this time regarding the practice of asmara Subuh, another Ramadan tradition, this time during the actual fasting month, when young people again go strolling about, or more likely riding on motorbikes, after having performed morning prayers.

Faisal said going about in the morning was not haram, and had health benefits, but …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … Sharia public beheading stages. Under Suharto 50% of all …

Teacher Sexual Assaults

… reason to dislike Asad. Asad did sometimes kiss students, on the cheeks, he said, but only when handing out achievement awards at the school. antara indopos

Comment by Purba Negoro: … in the East regarding such accusations- it is very rare …

Prophetic Ministry

… prophetic gifting which helps direct nations, cities, churches and individuals in understanding the times and seasons we live in.

Chuck, in some howling and shouting action.

While Cindy Jacobs, said to be :

a respected prophet

, heads Generals International, not a military group but an organisation which:

achieves societal transformation through intercession and the prophetic

Then Malaysian Paul Ang, who is blessed with a

powerful prophetic, …

Comment by Pst. Hendrik: … in abundance, exeedingly and in overflow through Christ …

Green & Energy Solutions

… farmers who let their fields go fallow every 3 or 4 years to stop the soil from completely degrading. After the field recovers and is ready to be cultivated again the farmer will cut down all the small trees and bushes and set them a light. After the fire has stripped the field of all plant life the farmer will plant his crop of dry-land rice, cassava or corn. Farmers use this method because they have not been taught better methods. Simply trying to ban the practice will not work; the …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … become a “leading polluter” in the past decade or …

City Cost of Living Comparisons

… cost of living in Indonesian cities, most expensive, Balikpapan to cheapest, Mataram.

According to the 2008 Living Costs Survey (Survei Biaya Hidup 2008) put out by Mercer Indonesia and carried out in July 2008 Balikpapan in East Kalimantan is the most expensive city to live in.

Cost of living estimates are based on prices of food and basic goods, transportation, utilities, housing, education, health care, entertainment and sport. kilasberita

The figures in brackets are off a …

Comment by Rob: … that you want depending on what you put into the equation. …

Presidential Debates

… taking a different approach. I open up a new chapter in presidential election in Indonesia by sending out public invitation to all of these presidential candidates to have series of public Presidential debates to discuss about those urgent and critical issues.

I believe so strongly that without resolving those critical issues, there is not much for any new President regardless how genius that person might be to make any significant changes in Indonesia. I am that confident! The issues …

Comment by lomboksurfer: … of bloody and bleedin so much but that just how we speak …

Expat Charitable Work

… children are stunted in growth - which can be physical or mental. Even in former Soviet Union - iodine alone has been found to contribute 10% of IQ - and many former Soviet nations not receiving formerly free iodine-enriched table salt now seeing reverse in raised standards.

China has long been active with UNWHO to improve iodine intake of its majority very poor population and a very good model. The UNWHO has many articles one iodine deficiency in Africa alone and correlation to poverty …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … penicillin, iodine etc for less than Rp 1500 (USd …

Climate Change Effects

… at this rate it will mean rise of about 30 cm by the year 2100. Now this does not sound to foreboding but you need to understand that the current rise is being caused by sea ice melting. This ice is already in the ocean so that like ice in a drink its melting won’t significantly affect the level of liquid in your glass. The danger is that as the sea ice melts the next thing to melt will be land based ice in Greenland and the Antarctic.

If the Greenland Ice Shelf was to completely melt …