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 dragonwall: … am involved in building apartmen, hospital, shopping mall, …

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 Mets: … already a longstanding department dealing in child …

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 Lairedion: According to this article some 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 Chris Komari: … of that game accordingly. But if Indonesia is embracing …

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 …

Argument Topics

The next funny installment of Purba vs various people, Achmad's Oigal obsession, East Timor, Batam, plenty of other stuff...cut from Dating Girls …

Comment by Oigal: … safe for dinner tonight, impressive…haggis …

Food & Energy Prices, & Climate Change

… Green Indonesia

In his speech on August 19th to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of Indonesia’s foreign ministry, President Yudhoyono spoke about looming global crises and what the country should do to meet these challenges. The three areas of concern he outlined were Food, Energy and Climate Change.

Like most things in the modern world these crises are not happening in isolation, they are in fact very interrelated. Any effort to try and stem them must first …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … debate. According to a quick wikipedia search- the …

Muslim Schools

Islamic boarding schools are under increasing pressure from radical elements, says Syamsir Siregar.

Continuing a recent talkative streak state intelligence boss (Badan Intelijen Negara, BIN) Syamsir Siregar said on 29th August that Islamic boarding schools, or pesantren, were highly susceptible to being infiltrated or taken over by radicals, people who would ruin the image of Islam and even commit …

Comment by Andy: … like sending their kids there. Muslims …

Neighbourly Affairs

Posts split from Dating …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … Adil, which according to Joyoboyo: “when iron wagons …

Signs That Your Son is Gay

Ahmad Dhani's theories on how rock music can prevent your son becoming gay.

Rock musician Ahmad Dhani , or Dhani Ahmad, ex-husband of Maia , recently said that he was very concerned that his sons would one day become gay, particularly with the mass murderer Ryan case still on his mind, and because in Jakarta these days there were a lot of gays around, and:

Being gay is like being …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … I remember reading Tasmania only took sodomy off the …

Islam vs Liberal Democracy

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

In a recent article, writing in reaction to Russia's recent "clobbering" of Georgia, the noted American political theorist Francis Fukuyama, best known for his work The End of History , tells us smh that

US dominance is slipping.

and the

Russian and Chinese model of authoritarianism …

Comment by janma: … are all standing in the same moral footprint…. …

Site Discussions

…

Comment by perseus: … power, and according to my snout at the DSD, Patung is …

Dream Girl Paris Hilton

Whether Paris Hilton is the ideal girl for Indonesian men.

Running an ordinary web search for "cewek idaman" (ideal girl/very desirable girl), exact match (with quotation marks), we get:

70,200 results for "cewek idaman".

Now if we add (exactly this AND exactly that) a query for "Paris Hilton":

19,700 results for "cewek idaman" "paris hilton".

Which means of course that almost 30% of the pages where "cewek idaman" is being talked about include at …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … I should stop reading my wife gossip magazine before I …

Learning Javanese Words & Phrases

… wrongly claim Javanese is extinct or dying. Actually - the complete opposite is true - we are finding many young people keen to learn. Sri Gusti Sultan Hamengkubuwana IX has vigourously re-introduced this ancient and beautiful language into his Kingdom - the minor Principalities following suit.

Javanese has been long part of the compulsory primary curriculum of Central Java - as have many regional languages like Batak, Sundanese, Balinese etc - even widely spoken Irian languages - even …

Comment by Miguel: … interacting and trading for centuries. When I go to …

Feudal Ways & Culture

What Indonesia needs is to dump its old feudal ways and culture, says Soetrisno Bachir.

At a seminar discussing Indonesian culture in modern times Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN) politician Soetrisno Bachir attempted to answer the question:

Can Indonesia become a first rank country, able to compete with the world and provide prosperity for its people?

Bachir said this was unlikely …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … But we have sliding tax rates for PAYE. Much tax …

Care for Elderly Jobs, Japan

… be placed in hospitals and old age and respite homes in several big cities in the country. The sending of the health workers was the first time Japan has accepted a large number of foreign workers in the medical and welfare sector.

Upon arrival nurses and caregivers will be taught Japanese for six months before they are placed into hospitals as nursing assistants, or at nursing care facilities as care workers, officials said.

Those working at hospitals will need to pass …

Theological Controversy

… doesn't say where Gaspar Parang Ehok, who was supported by a coalition of small parties including Partai Penegak Demokrasi Indonesia (PPDI), Partai Pelopor, and Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB), drew his support from, possibly including a lot of the Muslim minority.

Colonial Zoning

The origins of this split along denominational lines lies in Portuguese, and especially Dutch, zoning policies that began from the mid 16th century, where Flores, Belu, and Timor Tengah Utara were …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … killed while guarding the Cathedral opposite Istiqlal …

Olympics Medals Count

… have apparently been going on, and just finished. Indonesia finished 43rd in the medal standings.

Badminton, 1 gold (men's doubles - Markis Kido, Hendra Setiawan)
Badminton, 1 silver (mixed doubles - Nova Widianto, Liliyana)
Badminton, 1 bronze, (women's - Maria Kristin Yulianti.)
Weightlifting, 2 bronze (Eko Yuli Irawan & Triyatno).

Other Asean -

Thailand, 32nd, 2 gold, 2 silver
Malaysia, 74th, 1 bronze silver.
Singapore, 76th, 1 …

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … targeting law-abiding shirt-lifters.

Tin Mining

Callum on the tin mining industry, government limiting of production and exports, and illegal mining.

The Department of Energy and Mineral Resources has outlined plans to limit tin exports. Indonesia, the world's biggest exporter of tin and second largest producer after China, has confirmed plans to limit production of the commodity in a bid to support prices and extend the life of the …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … bules. I enjoy reading your intelligent, constructive …

Cewek Jakarta

… you curious to meet the real thing, virtually, there's always the dating site Indonesian Cupid !

Comment by Finally Woken: … Stock Exchange Building, for example…

Persuasion Techniques

… of the tactics used are routine raids on places where sin is thought to be going on as well as sending around Sharia Office cars with loudspeakers attached to the roofs.

For the latter method, every Friday from around 9am officers of the Wilayatul Hisbah (WH), usually female ones, go about armed with loudspeakers and loudly remind males that it is Friday and therefore they must perform prayers in a mosque.

Then again at 12.00 another sweep is made, and any straggling men who have …

Comment by perseus: … Is it fair dinkum or a spoof?? Pretty chick …

Old Traditions & Customs

… way.

My companion of course expressed her agreement with this comment, other passengers nodding assent, as if he’d said it was a lovely day today!

Coincidentally, Monday night, about 9pm, we tuned into El Shinta TV channel and caught a feature on a ceremony on the West Java Coast near Pelabuhan Ratu, hundreds of people making offerings to the Goddess, next to the Samoedra Hotel where a special room is dedicated to the diety. The celebrants were coordinated by Muslim chants of …

Comment by Barry prima: … the lines regarding what is deemed to be conversion. …

Independence Day

… Negoro".

It is also a time for Reevaluation - the Responsibility of the Revolutionary. I am alluding to Ananta Toer 's speech where he stated the "Revolution is not complete". The Requisite need for all the "Re"' suffixes that come as the Responsibility of Revolutionaries.

Warning: extreme cheesiness follows:

We can't spell Revolution, without U or Rev-u. Yes, I see Tivo too and also 'involuter' (do I win?)- but let's not distract.

We should pause to "Re-vu (tm)" as we commemorate …

Comment by Andy: … he would buy them dinner at Hana Masa. But these guys who …

Maid Abuse

Discussion on abuse of Indonesian maids in Singapore and Malaysia, and elsewhere.

Comments split off from Dedi Mulyadi …

Comment by janma: … mediocrity masquerading as excellence?

Oil Exploration, Production & Consumption

… eventually run out and Indonesia needs to start transitioning its economy for that inevitability.

Comment by Purba Negoro: … requires a reading of the 1945 Constitution where all …

Dedi Mulyadi

… Purwakarta branch of the Clerics' Council, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), sprang into action, holding an urgent meeting at which many leading religious figures attended. MUI Purwakarta boss Abdullah AR Joban, later accused Dedi of blasphemy against Islam.

This a serious matter. If it's allowed to stand we're worried the Muslim community will become upset/confused. If the Regent doesn't apologise we will report him to the police.

Apart from backtracking, Abdullah recommended that Dedi …

Comment by Patung: … confiscated a recording of Dedi’s speech as evidence. …

Subversive Groups & Patriotism

… who are not fanatics but are usually very nationalistic?

With elections next year, this deserves scrutiny.

Comment by perseus: … in West Papua seceding. Neither is the US. The …

Self Promotion Strategies

… are impressed, with in late June the Masyarakat Hukum Indonesia (MHI), some sort of legal body, sending a legal "summons" to Bachir, accusing him of wasting 300 billion rupiah on his self-marketing efforts, money which they claim could be better spent on social problems, and which comes from uncertain sources, particularly given Bachir's past business woes and debts to the taxman.

Said Wakil Kamal of HMI: antara

If he wants to be a national figure don't do it like this, follow the …

Comment by purba negoro: … Anton Medan leading the charge. All caught on video. …

Malay Loan Words in English

A not very taxing quiz to guess the Malay/Indonesian origins of some words in English.

"Jakarta Guy", as some sort of way of celebrating Indonesian independence day anniversary on 17th August, holds a quiz where Indonesians are asked to guess the Indonesian Malay origins of ten words in English.

Most of them are very, very easy:

The words are:

ketchup
…

Comment by tomaculum: … or Dutch trading ships, namely those of the British …

People Not Voting

People not participating in elections, fit to be stripped of Indonesian nationality or sinful.

The proportion of registered voters not taking part in regional and city elections (Golput (golongan putih atau tidak memilih)) this year averages around 40% and the matter has created some controversy.

In early July leader of PDI Perjuangan, Megawati Soekarnoputri, said at a campaign rally …

Comment by Jakartass: … election (not including the specifically Acehnese …

Sheila Marcia & Roger Danuarta

… , was arrested on August 7th while said to be at a "drugs party" at the Golden Sky apartment building in Pluit, North Jakarta, and found to be in possession of 0.27 grams of shabu-shabu.

Sheila Marcia, in happier times.

Apart from the drugs, police also confiscated a bong and lighters.

With Roger Danuarta

Her boyfriend, Roger Danuarta, was also arrested and later tested positive to narcotics in his system. It is not clear whether Sheila has been tested yet, or whether …

Comment by Enigmatic: … with you regarding the current generation. …

Indigenous Flag Raising

… into the air, however one of the men involved in the flag raising, Otinus Tabuni (41), was, according to official sources antara

allegedly killed by a stray bullet

The rally was organised by the Dewan Adat Papua (DAP) and is supposed to have involved members of the illegal Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM, Free Papua Organization)

Vice president Jusuf Kalla said the shooting was a purely criminal action, and not connected to the government. okezone

Meanwhile, a few …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … Matthew: Stop reading your NGO-Socialist Workers’ …

Working Sundays

… teaching.

The demonstrators later marched another kilometre to the Papuan parliament building and several more speeches were given. No-one was shot at. tempo

Comment by Rambutan: … of the long-standing conflcit.

Energy Saving & Efficiency

… Yudhoyono set a target of a 30% reduction in power usage, and it seems the State Secretariat building has already managed this, with a 32% fall in electricity and water usage recorded in July, at a saving of 100 million rupiah. waspada

Energy saver Yudhoyono.

Government ministers who attended the launch of the energy saving drive included Energy and Natural Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, State Secretary Hatta Rajasa, Minister of Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman, and …

Niwatakawaca, Rahwana, Cakil & Pasopati

… COMLOG WESTPAC- US Seventh Fleet’s principal COMmand LOGistics and bilateral exercise coordinator for Southeast Asia. Singapore's own navy has less than 200 permanent crew, yet 49% of Singapore' budget is earmarked for defense.

Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid aka Bagong severely weakened Indonesia's marginal strategic naval leverage via the illegal sale of sand amounting to 1.28 km² (0.50 sq mi) of reclaimed land for the blue-water CNB alone- now capable of …

Comment by Oigal: … km (no kidding btw how big is England? 200 Miles …

Spiritual Discipline & Fasting

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

Ramadan Ranting Underway

The silly season is under way again, as fanatical twits show utter indifference to those for whose welfare their religion might presumably dispose them to care.

I refer to the Clerics' Council, MUI, whose Riau chapter in Batam has …

Comment by Rob: … of succeeding in your pursuit whether it be …

How to Catch Ms Bule

… guy with an Asian girl but less common to see a white girl with an Asian guy.

Why?

According to a blog discussion smh at the Sydney Morning Herald there are various answers.

Caucasian men are seen as more masculine (in that they are bigger, more muscular and more aggressive).

Asian girls are seen as more feminine (more petite, submissive, compliant).

Asian men are smaller, slighter, shorter and a white girl wants her man to be bigger than she is not smaller. She …

Comment by Aluang Anak Bayang: Just like wild dingoes, they attack in pack.

Ryan of Jombang

Homosexual serial killer Ryan of Jombang, eleven victims and counting.

The news item overwhelmingly dominating television screens currently is the story of the murderer 30 year old Very/Verry/Verri Idham Henyansyah, usually called Ryan. In recent days the remains of 10 of Ryan's murder victims have been dug up in and immediately outside Ryan's family home in Dusun Maijo kampung, Jatiwates …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … tribal dress including the cap, the Plantation Hat, the …

Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti

… have been evacuated and currently about 470 of them are camping out at the national parliament building, DPR/MPR, at the badminton courts at the back of the building.

Evacuation of students under police guard.

Bayu Kusuma of SETIA says the school authorities refuse to relocate the campus, that they own the land and have the proper permission to use it as theological seminary. kompas

Arastamar School of Theology.

On the other side, Risman Hadi, a representative of …

Comment by Cukurungan: … with my extraordinary English: Once day in the …

Adinda Bakrie & Seng-Hoo Ong

Adinda Bakrie marries Seng-Hoo Ong in lavish style in a multi-billion rupiah affair.

The niece of Coordinating Social Affairs minister Aburizal Bakrie, and daughter of former PT Lapindo Brantas owner Indra Usmansyah Bakrie and restauranteur Gaby Djorgie, Adinda Bakrie married Seng-Hoo Ong on July 25th, her new husband himself belonging to a wealthy business family, in Singapore. …

Comment by Ice Chodolate: … that kind of wedding… that would be the most …

Political Campaign Posters & Slogans

Results for the East Java election and photos of some campaign banners, posters and slogans for each team.

Predicted, unofficial results for the East Java governor's election held on July 23rd:

Soekarwo-Saifullah Yusuf (Partai Demokrat, PAN, (& PKS)) - 27%
Khofifah Indar Parawansa-Mudjiono (PPP & PKPB, PBR, PNBK, PPNUI, PKPI, PDS, Partai Merdeka, PNI Marhaenisme, …

Comment author: Odinius

Comment by Odinius: … in the coffers?

Death Row Inmates & Debate

… eagerly sought!)

Amrozi

I’m not totally familiar with the geography of government buildings in Jakarta, but one would have imagined that a keen tukang ojek could have fetched that necessary scrap of paper across town inside half an hour. Never mind! Clearly there is no great sense of urgency in the corridors of power to mete out justice to Amrozi and his fellow-bigots along the same lines as was done with the three Christians in the outer islands a year ago. For already we have …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … rights- including the right to breathe, the have …

Reasons for Divorce

Too many elections might be pushing up the divorce rate, with women leading the way.

The Director General of the Islam section of the Department of Religion, Nasarudin Umar, held a press conference on 15th July to discuss the problem of divorce in Indonesia, which he said was getting much worse.

Umar worried that the divorce rate had doubled in recent times, and:

...for every 100 marriages there are 10 divorces, and usually divorces occur in young …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … fine me for speeding. Very annoying. Luckily my …

Dewi Perssik & Wong Telu

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

TVRI Slashes Dewi Down?

We went to the Jakarta Fair last Tuesday, choosing that particular day because the delightful Dewi Persik was due to sing, which indeed she did, very well. During the concert, it was announced that TVRI would show the event on Saturday 12th July. Naturally, we tuned into …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … the West by pretending the Rakyat are the best masters of …

Indonesians vs. Jakarta Expats

… East vs. West, Orang Indonesia vs. Orang Bule

Yang Liu is a Beijing-born artist residing in Germany. One of her works, Ost trifft West, depicts cultural differences between the Chinese and Germans through amusing infographics, which also hold true remarkably well for differences between the East and the West in general. Including our beloved country Indonesia? Yes, but not entirely either.

According to Geert Hofstede, an international authority on cultural differences, …

Comment by perseus: … advice to reminding us white guys that we are all …

Modern Day Javanese Girls

… twenty painters, all on the topic of what direction Javanese life and culture seems to be heading.

One work, "Java Clubber" by Aji Yudalaga, featured a girl perched on a Jakarta reg. motorbike (but not a Vespa ), bra straps and white with multi-colored polkadots underwear visible, presumably about to head off for a night of partying. That was just how many modern Javanese girls are today, it is suggested.

Java Clubber.

Meanwhile two works by Arya Panjalu, "Jawa Bukan …

Digital Divide

… of people with internet access.

The General Manager of Telkom's Sumatera Division, M. Awaluddin, said in Medan on 30th June that the proportion of Indonesians who understood and used the internet was still very small compared to countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, that the "digital divide" was still gaping.

In Malaysia, for example, school exams were already done online, or at least with computers, while Indonesia was still far from being ready to implement such a …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … why then do leading US stores continue this apparent …

Political Acronym List

Spoilt for choice in the 2009 elections, almost three dozen political parties to choose from, most with their own acronym.

34 political parties will be allowed to participate in the 2009 elections by the Electoral Commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum, KPU), 16 of which are established parties, that is, they passed verification at least partly based on their performance in the 2004 …

Comment author: Odinius

Comment by Odinius: … politically?

Power Blackouts

Planned electricity blackouts in some areas of Jakarta in July. Don't panic!

The state electricity company, PT PLN (Persero), has announced that between 11-25 July 2008 rolling power blackouts will occur, for seven hours at a time, in Jakarta (certain parts of Gambir, Kebayoran, and Kramat Jati) and parts of Tangerang, between the hours of 08.00-15.00 and 15.00-22.00 WIB.

The reason …

Comment by ultratupai: … been given regarding global climate change it seems …

Islamic Olympic Games

… themselves.
On the MTQ National Ratu said winning wasn't important, nor was the prestige of holding the event, the main thing was that the people of Banten were encouraged to live according to Quranic precepts, both in behaviour and attitude.
No doubt she has a similar attitude to the Muslim Olympics, and added that Banten people were well known for being very religious, and this was a big advantage for the province in its efforts to host the Games. antara

Comment by Janma: … weight) and proceeding to boulders (infidel weight.) …

Pocong Horror

The horror of pocong films, the Indonesian movie industry's obsession with ghosts.

The Indonesian film industry has tried many different genres, from comedy to religious to drama to teen romances, but currently have decided that horror films are their best bet to draw in audiences, says one Tasha Hadifitri. This is not entirely a problem by itself, the appalling standard of the films is …

Comment by timdog: … out correctly according to the strict rules, then their …

Gabby, Talkative Intelligence Chief

… and even of having provided funds to organise the demonstrations outside the parliament building and at Atma Jaya University on 16th June.

Deputy Rector of the Universitas Paramadina, Yudi Latif, says Syamsir Siregar is making president SBY look weak, as if the president needs the help of the talkative spy boss to maintain discipline in his cabinet, and okezone

Siregar shouldn't be saying things like that in public.

Comment author: Odinius

Sexy Dancing

… in an open arena, the Kajen Alun-alun (city square), clearly visible to anyone and everyone, including lots of children, and right in front of the Kajen Grand Mosque, and that the act went on without any policemen or public order officers doing anything, except watching. l6

The second half of this news report has plenty of the Angel Dancers.

Qirom, a Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN) member of the local parliament says Pekalongan is known as "Kota Santri", and so this sort of …

Comment by Alex: … if she’s standing in front of you. It’s all in …

Jakarta People & Cultures

A Betawi figure worries that many immigrants to Jakarta are too narrow in their cultural perspective.

Writer and historian Ridwan Saidi says many newcomers to Jakarta bring with them a "homogeneous" culture, perhaps meaning inflexible or narrow, and when they come into contact with the diversity and chaos of the capital city become shocked, and sometimes attempt to force their worldview …

Comment by berlian biru: … My understanding was that the betawi were similar …

Moral Virtue Vigilantes

The Front Pembela Islam are back in action, raiding places and publicly shaming sinners.

Although in early June some FPI branches in East Java were, it seemed at the time ( FPI, Komando Laskar Islam & Munarman ), forced to close, the Lamongan branch of the Front Pembela Islam/Islam Defenders Front has bounced back, with on 23rd June an adulterous couple suffering from the religious zeal of the men in white robes.

The FPI raided …

Sanur Escorts, Bali

The escort girls of Sanur's red light district are cheering Spain's victory in Euro 2008.

Residents of the red light district/ lokalisasi at Sanur, Bali have been complaining that the Euro football Cup has deprived them of business, with their usual customers preferring to stay at home and watch men kick a ball back and forth.

Lila, a working girl from Jember in East Java, says it …

Comment by Chuck Mieser: … of Bali Cowboys riding the herd. Sit down by the Mikky …

Annisa Trihapsari

… Trihapsari, having recently become a mother, has decided to give thanks to God for sending her a child, and for giving her such as lovely husband, by choosing to wear the Muslim headscarf whenever she goes about.

Annisa Trihapsari, various parts semi-visible.

Annisa says she actually started wearing the jilbab after marrying Sultan Djorghi but the birth of her child has made her even more determined to cover herself up in public, as thanks to God.

My mother used to …

Fiskal Tax & NPWP

… 1st January 2011 the "fiskal free" policy will be extended to all those travelling abroad, according to revisions to the Pajak Penghasilan (PPh) bill that have yet to be agreed upon by parliament.

Darmin Nasution.

Darmin Nasution of the Tax Office, said to be a collector of interesting photos on the internet, says the two year delay in abolishing the fiscal tax entirely is to encourage people to get an NPWP, since most Indonesians do not have one and pay no income tax …

Comment by The Righteous Dude: according to revisions to the Pajak …

Acha Septriasa in Malaysia

… & Irwansyah

Acha says living in Malaysia has forced her to learn some new tricks, including washing her own clothes and cooking for herself, as well as taking the bus to visit her father (who works for Petronas) on Sundays, but on the whole things aren't all that different, since the people there also speak Malay, if mixed with English. inilah