Punishment for sin, a minister blames disasters on depravity & corruption of Indonesians.

Wheeling & dealing in the selection of the 2009-2014 Cabinet, foreign plants & political hacks.

Muslim only housing estates and gated communities in Jakarta and surrounds, and Halal Bogor.

Islamic solidarity with the people of Xinjiang, or not, condemning, and getting along with China.

Doubts raised over president Yudhoyono's ability to win re-election,.. and an IM voter poll.

Mufidah Kalla & Uga Wiranto are hot stuff in the battle for Muslim votes, while Mrs Ani is urged to cover up.

BI governor Boediono for vice president, whether a neo-liberal and not religious enough.

More women politicians is what is needed, some say.

Dealing with enemies on the left and the right keeps Nahdlatul Ulama leaders busy talking.

Who president Yudhoyono will choose as his running mate for the "Indonesia Bisa" campaign.

Is political Islam down and out in 2009? Islamic parties look for reasons for their failure.

Quick counts for the 2009 national parliamentary general election have Demokrat leading the way.

Indonesian attitudes to the Darfur issue in Sudan, in comparison to Palestine.

The alignment of forces for the 2009 elections, the 'Golden' coalitions of political parties.

Some nice quality photos of aspects of the 2009 elections from Yogyakarta.

Usage of religious symbolism in politics, examples of election campaign posters.

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

Bright ideas are coming thick and fast from the East Java police chief, this time headscarves for policewomen.

Goyang under threat, whether the governor of West Java wants to ban jaipong dance for being too sexy.

Protests against the Israel attacks in the Gaza Strip mirror those over the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.

Sectarian violence over classroom blasphemy allegations in the Central Moluccas near Ambon.

The Mumbai terror attacks heighten resolve in Indonesia to fight terrorism, and dealing with wrong impressions about religion.

Ross on the bigotry of teachers of religion in Islamic schools, ideological jilbabs, and Dewi Persik.

Whether teenagers know how to put on a condom, free condom distribution to prostitutes, and condoms in schools.

Early pre-election opinion poll results have president Yudhoyono's Partai Demokrat leading the way.

Website and blog owners scramble to delete offensive cartoons as the government, MUI and PKS bear down on them.

The Justice Party-PKS is not a bringer of Saudi Arabian Wahabi Islam to Indonesia, says its leader.

Justice Party political ads on television, how the PKS is approaching the 2009 election.

Update and results of the East Java election, and winning the votes of the Nahdlatul Ulama faithful.

The controversy over a politician-cleric's marriage to an underage girl in Semarang.

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

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

Islamic rituals of courting and romance, how to woo your Muslim bride the taaruf way.

The proposed Pornography law is to be passed next week, and grumblings from Bali.

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

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

Who would be the best running mate for Megawati in the 2009 election.

Bibit–Rustriningsih's win in Central Java continues PDI-P domination, with the PKS a distant third.

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

Explanations for the FPI violence at Monas, blaming the victims, the government, and foreign plots.

The Justice Party's ideology, recent electoral wins, and chances of success for 2009 general and presidential elections.

Justice Party politician Hidayat Nurwahid's wife-to-be, the lovely widow Diana Abbas Thalib of Kemang.

The PKS continues its mini winning streak in regional elections, this time in North Sumatra.

Islamic parties on track for victory in the West Java election.

On whether women, in this case Khofifah Indar Parawansa, are suitable for regional leadership positions.

The Islamic romance film "Ayat Ayat Cinta", political Islam, and pesantren prodigies.

Aspirasi hegemoni regional Australi dan pertahanan Indonesia.

Australia's regional hegemonic aspirations and Indonesian defence procurements.

Perlombaan Miss Indonesia di Palembang dituduh menyebarkan sipilis.

The Miss Indonesia beauty contest in Palembang is accused of spreading syphilis.