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 …

Comment by Patrick: … embarrassment? Apparently my detractors have noticed …

Popular Myths & Madura

… in the shade. They were rather different from the man from Cilacap: all hearty laughter, back-slapping and jokes. To someone from a culture steeped in formality and control they might have seemed boorish and awful. To me they 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]

Idul Fitri Celebrations

… as I know, held their festivities 24 hours apart from the other half.

Big deal! I imagine God appreciates all devotions offered in good faith by those who believe in Him, and I have a hunch calendars are not much in evidence in Heaven. Why then should a political appointee in Jakarta feel entitled to brow-beat HT (though there are plenty of real reasons to brow-beat that group if anyone here had the guts to do so) for daring to differ from the Islamic establishment? There is in fact no …

Comment by Ross: … a day they don’t approve, then the ulemas concerned can …

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 Patrick: … guest. The devil snapped back OK! OK! But you better not …

Perceptions of Current Threats

… asked:

If [they] feared the breaking up of Indonesia's unity

66% feared might happen

27% what they feared most

55% feared "another country provoking tension between different groups in Indonesia"

52% "breakdown of law and order or social harmony in Indonesia"

51% anxious of possible "terrorist attacks"

Fear of "breakup of Indonesia's unity" is shared by all groups. There is no difference between age, gender, and location, on the common fear …

Comment by timdog: … media (although PN apparently considers some of the most …

Partial Privatization & IPO’s

… Kratakau Steel, Garuda Indonesia and Bank Tabungan Negara.

30% Solution

Lawmakers have approved plans for an initial public offering (IPO) of steelmaker PT Kratakau Steel, flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia and PT Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) in a partial privatization.

Plans are afoot to sell 30% of each company to private investors. Though I am all for the Government getting out of the business of running businesses, this not even half measure should be understood for what it is. …

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 …

Comment by Rambutan: … politics, like the RUU Pornografi business.

What is Racism?

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

Comment by dragonwall: … clik and nothing happened. Just kidding..I can’t be …

Porn Laws in English

… Government is defined as the Governor, District Chief, or Mayor and the Regional Government apparatus and complex.

SECTION 2:Basis and Prohibitions

The Foundation of Pornography Regulations is based on the God the Supreme Almighty, admiration and respect of the dignity and worth of humans, diversity, the Rule of Law, non-discrimination and protection of Citizens/Civilians of the State [sic: applies to non Citizens as well]

Section 3
Purpose of Porn Rules :

To shape, …

Comment by foolosophy: … then what will happen? Christians will be divided by …

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 …

Comment by Patrick: … post after tapping the wrong letter on the key …

Muslim Dating & Courting Rituals

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

Semi Arranged Marriages

In the wildly popular Indonesian film Ayat Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love) the main character, handsome Fahri, more or less skips the "dating" phase of courtship, aka pacaran , and gets straight to the point by proposing marriage to the character of Aisha.

Sorry …

Comment by PrimaryDrive: If people are happy with this way of life, I see no …

Wahidin Halim, Tangerang

… are we to make of this? Along with the recurring reports of supine police collaboration/appeasement of the FPI scumbags, most recently in yesterday’s JP revelation that said Islamonazis are permitted to stroll about the court precincts where they are meant to be awaiting prosecution (with honest folk scolded by the duty cops they protest to, then assaulted by fanatic hoodlums with not a police hand raised against the thugs) it appears that the powers that be in Indonesia are …

Pornography Laws

… and grumblings from Bali.

The proposed anti-pornography law, which once was called

RUU Anti-Pornografi & Pornoaksi ( RUU APP )

but later changed to

RUU Anti-Pornografi

and now just

RUU Pornografi

has been in the committee stage of deliberation for over two years, but is now likely to be passed into law on September 23rd, as, some of its supporters say, a Ramadan gift for Muslims. jakartapost

The bill is primarily supported by:

Partai …

Comment by janma: … for rejecting the RUU Pornography? Nevertheless, …

Effeminate Men

… and the Broadcasting Commission (Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia, KPI), managed to find 805 inappropriate scenes on television, featuring:

violence
mysticism
indecency

The checking of television content was done between 1-8 September 2008 at the key times of 03.00-05.00 (meal time before fasting) and 17.00-19.00 (fast breaking meal time).

Indosiar was the worst offender, accounting for 18% of violations, while Metro TV was the most straitlaced, with only 0.6%. …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … connoisseur will happily tell you the best wayang is …

The Perfect Woman

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

Comment by Rob: … government and the appearance of selling their affections …

God is Dead

… faith, and are easily influenced by this new, secular, knowledge and like to show it off and appear cultured and clever.

Further, the critiques of European philosophers, he says, were often directed against the hypocrisy of middle class people in Europe who affected religious belief but whose lives and actions ran against the principles of their religion. Today in Indonesia students can see parallels with this, with many people who acknowledge themselves as Muslim being corrupt, or in …

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … people this month appear to be believing in a Supreme …

Kevin Bloody Wilson

Achmad appreciates Australian popular culture, in this case the songs of Kevin Bloody Wilson.

Appreciating Australia: Kevin Bloody Wilson

As a gesture of goodwill in this fasting month, I'd like to help build bridges.. There have been some harsh words thrown on this forum, so I'd like to help heal and unite IM readers by throwing light on other cultures.

As a Ramadan gift, I present to …

Comment by Andy: … would most likely happen. A student of mine once said he …

Miserable People

… being unfriendly or perhaps even a bit stuck-up

He recommends that Indonesians just ignore the apparent unfriendliness of bules, and just approach them if they feel like it. javajive.com

Comment by Brett: … the comments disappointing. Here, here Brandon! My …

Key to Success

On why the Islamic world fell into backwardness, and the key to future success.

Addressing a meeting of the Indonesian Islamic Society of Brisbane (IISB) in Australia on 7th September Heru Sriwidodo Sari, founder of the Trainer Muslim Indonesia Association, worried that many parents today regarded their children's school textbooks as being more worthy of mastering than the Quran, more …

Comment by Geordie: … from your employ approximately 17% of the world’s …

Cow Sex

A Balinese man is caught taking advantage of a cow, and how the villagers respond.

70 year old Nengah Sutarya, 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 …

Comment by Rob: … story is one that happened here? If so, wouldn’t it be …

Dutch War Crimes

… Survivors of Rawagede remember (full version of documentary linked in footnotes).

Apparently dissatisfied by their lack of success the Dutch commander directed all males to be separated from the rest in order to execute all of them, despite the fact there were some young males of 11-12 years old among them. Indonesian leaders reported the mass killing to local UN officials. The UN made an inquiry and concluded the killings were "deliberate" and "ruthless" but failed to …

Comment by janma: … imagine that happening! Made me laugh that did! Gotta …

Proper Etiquette for Ramadan

… develop inner strength
greater humility
gain favour from God
lose weight
appear pious to others for status
etc.

The ideal of Ramadan is to sacrifice one's desires for something greater, and truly comprehend the life of the destitute - living day to day on empty stomach - instilling in greater awareness of the poor and being more charitable.

Often many indigenous Catholics, especially Javanese, will join the fast too (or in part) - this can be from …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … or are we still happy with devil’s advocate or will we …

Barack Obama Childhood

Discussion on Barack Obama 's childhood and schooling in …

Comment by Michael Bryant: … response appears credible but you are only the …

Beach Parties & Riding Pillion

… and other sites of interest, called minggu abeh.

He said it was a custom in Aceh, as Ramadan approached, for people to visit tourist sites, especially beaches, and stroll around. He was particularly worried that young, unmarried couples liked to go to the beach together, fraternizing.

Going to tourist sites, especially for unmarried couples, is in violation of Islamic law.

Faisal said this tradition had nothing to do with Islam and it would be better if people got together to …

Teacher Sexual Assaults

… the trial is being held, complaining that on three occasions As'ad Syukur Fauzanni had failed to appear in court, because he was unwell. As'ad Syukur Fauzanni suffers from diabetes.

One of the demonstrators, Rolimah, said her eleven year old niece Mawar had had her chest rubbed by Asad, and she hoped he would be punished as severely as possible.

It is said that As'ad Syukur Fauzanni began assaulting students in early 2008, by kissing them or rubbing their breasts, as some sort of …

Prophetic Ministry

American led societal transformation, intercession and the prophetic marketed in Indonesia.

A very big billboard on a major road advertising a "prophetic" ministries conference in Surabaya, East Java a few weeks ago.

"Apostle" Chuck Pierce heads the Glory of Zion International Ministries in Denton, Texas, and holds these other positions:

head of Eagles of God Apostolic …

Comment by Geordie: … pyramid scheme it appears to me as anyone who wants to …

Green & Energy Solutions

… though daunting are not insurmountable, but they will require political leadership to make them happen. The question that every Indonesian should be asking themselves in the run up to next years elections is do any of the politicians have what it takes to meet these challenges.

Callum Roxburgh is a wealth manager based in Jakarta.

Presidential Debates

… slogans is no longer acceptable. It is very troubling to know that as Presidential election is approaching very rapidly and I have not seen any of these Presidential candidates pointing out those critical issues that need to be debated openly and publicly. The current notion entertained by political party leaders and presidential candidates to run a campaign platform with empty rhetoric, and empty slogans will do nothing to make a change and at the very best will only maintain status quo. …

Comment by Chris Komari: … argue that what happening in Indonesia now are …

Expat Charitable Work

… for young children; and skills training for mothers.

Any and all help is very gratefully appreciated - http://www.motherandchildhealth.org/

May I add - many expats are tireless contributors for this charity and have made a very good name for themselves. I hope the few idiotic plebeian compatriots never tarnish their name.

Comment by Rob: … need be. One bad apple always spoils the bunch and this …

Climate Change Effects

… the ice in both polar regions will retreat. We are already seeing this in the form of the disappearing sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic Oceans. The current rate of sea rise is 3-4mm per year which is accelerating at 0.013mm per year, if it continues 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 …

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 timdog: … Indonesia (Shotgun approach? Absolutley not! It was …

Food & Energy Prices, & Climate Change

… 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 understand how they relate to each other and that solutions in any one area will have an impact on the other areas. This article will look at the causes of the 3 crises. In future articles I will look at their potential impacts and at concrete steps that Indonesia can take now to help limit …

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 …

Comment by Andy: … of the job which I applied for. This led me to think that …

Neighbourly Affairs

Posts split from Dating …

Comment by Geordie: … damage that, it appears, you’d glorify in inflicting …

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 Ish: … opposed to quality apparently) is such a poor and …

Islam vs Liberal Democracy

… Says Fukuyama:

"Democracy's only competitor in the realm of ideas is radical Islamism but the appeal of this kind of medieval Islamism is limited.

Despite recent authoritarian advances:

liberal democracy remains the strongest, most broadly appealing idea out there.

and even autocrats pay lip service to democratic rituals and grovel before capitalism.

Yet he concludes that autocratic regimes like Russia and China have nothing to offer beyond nationalism. They lack the brawn, …

Comment by Oigal: … seem to apply. Other countries have thieves …

Site Discussions

…

Comment by Cukurungan: … was also trapped by Dutch in the fake discussion. …

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 …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … have a bamboo strapped to our shoulders for bad posture. …

Learning Javanese Words & Phrases

… sonten (sore time)

Good Morning= Sugeng injang

Bon voyage= Sugeng tindak

Bon appetit!= Sugeng dahar

Please Eat= Monggo dahar

Happy Birthday: Sugeng Ambel Warsa!

Please (action implied- like silahkan)- monggo

I Love you: Dalem tresno panjenengan

Yo wes. Cekap. Parang ya?

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: … most stupid yet appealing to idiotic sycophant fan …

Theological Controversy

People from East Nusa Tenggara continue to play out 16th century European theological battles.

Election

Journalist Lambertus L Hurek writes of the recent governor's election in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) that, unlike in similar elections on Java, "primordial", tribal forces dominated the campaign and voting patterns, with ethnicity, religious affiliation, and church …

Comment by Lairedion: … But now I’m happy to tell I’ve set my mind free …

Olympics Medals Count

The Olympics 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, …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … not yet realise or appreciate it. Ditto our Rakyat.

Cewek Jakarta

… big boobs from eating too much hormone packed junk food (KFC, McD, etc). Definitely the minimalist approach; nay Dadaism!

The brand name handbag. Most likely imitation, but surprisingly many of these girls have the real thing.

The tight pants. If you've got it flaunt it I suppose. Can be frustratingly difficult to get off though!

The panty line: every good girl wants to show her knickers.

The lipstick: bright and cheerful, matches the clothes.

The fragrance: …

Ki Gendeng Pamungkas

… two of his opponents in the race he has a warning

My inner voice says something is going to happen to those two.

What would happen, he wouldn't say, except okezone

Just wait till September, there'll be some news that'll shock you.

As part of the electoral rules Ki Gendeng Pamungkas filed a report to the Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) in which he claimed to have almost 17 billion rupiah in assets. The source of his wealth: kilasberita

It's a secret, but I'm not …

Comment by Rob: … I care about what happens and how things turn out in this …

Old Traditions & Customs

… for the future of the island’s culture if fanaticism continues to rise unchecked. Will Java to itself be true?

Comment by timdog: … ticked off for my apparent hostility to Islam. I really …

Independence Day

… property and privilege from hostile insular minorities to the needy majority Rakyat?

How to reapply ourselves to Pancasila and Gotong Royong?

Have we paid off our own guilty conscience to the Poor through hand-out rather than hand-up?

Have we betrayed our inner dignity and magnificent culture to the vulgar trappings of the petty urban bourgeoisie- the temporary and the facile: vanity, materialism, consumerism, coveting of mere trinkets and baubles?

Have we served ourselves, the …

Comment by Andy: … Would never happen in a bule company. No wonder the …

Maid Abuse

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

Comments split off from Dedi Mulyadi …

Comment by tomaculum: … of your happy little box. Too hard. You need to …

Oil Exploration, Production & Consumption

… its economy for that inevitability.

Callum Roxburgh is a wealth manager based in Jakarta.

Comment by DXP: … society, you must apply muslim measurement to eradicate …

Dedi Mulyadi

The MUI attempts to chase the regent of Purwakarta out of town, for a musical analogy.

On 7th August the regent of Purwakarta district in West Java, Dedi Mulyadi, gave a speech in which he compared the Quran to a musical instrument, the flute. Dedi was also supposed to have said that he believes the Quran should be interpreted allegorically or metaphorically, not literally.

In response …

Comment by dewaratugedeanom: … able to see what happens in reality. For us the proof of …

Subversive Groups & Patriotism

… but unfortunately Melanesians have more votes in the USA than migrants from Maluku.)

HT apparently decided the note was an infringement of Indonesia’s sovereignty, hence a lot of nasties with their Darth Vadar lookalike wives screaming on the streets. Farid Wadji of HTI read out a statement: hizbut-tahrir.or.id

We call for the Moslem in Papua to stand side by side with the Moslem all over Indonesia to reject the plan of the Kuffar Colonizer to separate the province from …

Comment by perseus: … Papua is “not a happy place”. Would it be happier as …

Self Promotion Strategies

… however he was reported to be considering who would be a suitable running mate for the presidency, apparently with a preference for an academically inclined youngish person of Sundanese stock - because a Javanese-Sundanese ticket would be hard to beat, ethnicity being an important consideration. okezone

Farmers' Friend Prabowo Subianto

Lieutenant General Prabowo Subianto, the leader of the new nationalist political party Partai Gerakan Indonesia Raya (Gerindra), has embarked on a …

Comment by Gareng: … time. They kidnapped and eliminated members of the …

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 Geordie: … I’m very happy that the language was and is able …

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: … 38 parties have ‘approval’ to campaign in the ongoing …

Sheila Marcia & Roger Danuarta

… 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 she has admitted to using the drugs. okezone

Eka Deli.

Her good friend, gospel and pop music singer, the …

Comment by Geordie: … Sorry PN but it appeared that was exactly what you were …

Indigenous Flag Raising

More flag raising deaths and controversy, this time in Papua.

On 9th August to celebrate "International Day of the World's Indigenous People" (Hari Internasional Bangsa Pribumi) a rally was staged in Wamena at which the "Bintang Kejora" (morning star) flag of the West Papuan independence movement was raised, side by side with the with the United Nations and Indonesian flags in Sinabuk …

Comment by Geordie: … to size itself appropriately to the availability and …

Working Sundays

Whether working on Sundays is a sign of Islamization for the pious Papuans.

In Jayapura on 4th August several thousand Papuans from various church associations marched to the governor of Papua's residence, protesting the recently signed ministerial decree in Jakarta making Sundays official, national work days.

The protestors hoped that Governor of Papua Barnabas Suebu would take up …

Comment by Rambutan: … Not everything happening in Indonesia is motivated by …

Niwatakawaca, Rahwana, Cakil & Pasopati

… http://oai.dtic.mil/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-802

Comment by Oigal: … I said we are all happy you are an amusing xenophobe …

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 demanded that …

Comment by tomaculum: … I’am very, very happy to be immoral. Cheers, I will now …

How to Catch Ms Bule

… gambit of the Kuta Cowboy. White men never open like this. Maybe we should? Ms Bule will be happy to pay for dinner and drinks. However, when the holiday is over, she may not persist in staying in touch. She may decide her Kuta Cowboy was some holiday fun and leave it at that.

Ms Bule is more likely to engage in casual sex away from home. The double standard applies. The man who has many women is a stud; the woman who has many men is a slut. On holiday, lust can be indulged without …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … into your flapping big mouth.

Ryan of Jombang

… one in Jakarta. Police say there are likely still more victims to be found.

Ryan

Ryan appears to be homosexual, or perhaps bisexual, and some of his killing has been ascribed in the media to the insane jealousy that homosexuals in particular are said to suffer from. One of Ryan's victims, Grady Adam, is said to have liked to wear boots and behaved in a "macho" way. okezone

The Dig.

Although Ryan has only just been arrested, there has been much speculation over what …

Comment by Agus: … killer”? Appalling as it may seem, but such bias …

Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti

A violent neighbourhood dispute over a Christian theological college in East Jakarta.

The dispute over the 19 year-old Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (Kampus Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Injil Arastamar, SETIA) in the Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti, Makassar, East Jakarta area flared up again with on July 25th a violent fight breaking out between local Muslim residents and Christian …

Comment by tomaculum: … world, it does not apply as you can see in history, a few …

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 Mindert: … Gie, who made an appeal to his fellow ‘chinese …

Political Campaign Posters & Slogans

… clear which main party was supporting Khofifah - the Kabah party, PPP.

Leather jacket man appeared on a great number of election banners even though he wasn't running for office. He is from the Partai Patriot (the "Party of youth"), which seemed to go all-out for Khofifah.

Sutjipto

Sutjipto and Ridwan Hisyam are not particularly well-known figures and their campaign relied on the appeal of Megawati and the core support of the PDI Perjuangan. Unlike the other candidates, …

Death Row Inmates & Debate

… office to receive a copy of the Supreme Court’s rejection of the strangely reluctant 'martyrs’ appeal. (You’d think all those gorgeous maidens in paradise would be a destination 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 …

Comment by dewaratugedeanom: … time Amrozi et al. appear in the media to publish also …

Reasons for Divorce

… society, because state and society cannot be ordered properly unless families are stable and happy.

Umar's data on cases, and causes of divorce, with the reasons given for separation as

incompatibility (because of adultery) - 54000 cases
disharmony - 46000
economic hardship - 24000
interference by relatives - 9000
family crisis - 4700
forced marriage - 1700
domestic violence - 900
polygamy - 879
biological defect (like infertility) - 580 …

Comment by justin et: … lives and found happiness instead of settling for …

Dewi Perssik & Wong Telu

… or so ago seen a similar PRJ recorded show, which lasted for the best part of an hour, so by the approach of 9 p.m. we were assuming that we'd got the date wrong.

Dewi Perssik

Then, after a fairly obscure band (nothing to do with PRJ) had been playing old rock for no obvious reason since about eight, suddenly I was jolted from my computer by Ms. Perssik's voice. There she was, and there she continued - for less than ten minutes!

Does anybody have any idea what motivated TVRI to …

Comment by Ross: … a real effort to appreciate her audience. TVRI …

Indonesians vs. Jakarta Expats

… you think of any other differences between Indonesians and foreigners? Share them in the comments!

Comment by AchmadSudarsono: … Alot of things happened in the 14th century - like Jews …

Modern Day Javanese Girls

… "This is Java!", (he's imploring others to submit themselves to anything and everything Javanese, apparently). gatra

Curator Rain Rosidi said by "Java" what was meant was not restricted to ethnically Javanese people alone, partly because Javaneseness has already clearly been influenced by external forces.

Comment by DisgustedbyKemunafikan: … modernism is so appealing. Easy care attitude is …

Digital Divide

Indonesia still lags well behind its neighbours in proportion 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 …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … continue this apparent paleological insistence on a …

Political Acronym List

… Kasih

Partai Kongres

In Aceh, where local parties are permitted, six out of ten applicants succeeded in registering. kompas

Partai Aceh, PA

Partai Aceh Aman Sejahtera, PAAS

Partai Bersatu Atjeh, PBA

Partai Daulat Aceh, PDA

Partai Rakyat Aceh, PRA

Partai Suara Independen Rakyat Aceh, SIRA

Those which were rejected: okezone

Partai Aliansi Rakyat Aceh Peduli Perempuan (PARA)
Partai Darussalam (PD)
Partai …

Comment by kinch: … post Suharto’s appointment of Feisal Tanjung (I knew a …

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 PrimaryDrive: … again as proud and happy indonesians.

Mandi

… woman had washed she should perform a check on herself to make sure that she felt comfortable and happy. After that, once out in the world, the main thing was to avoid worrying and instead to laugh a lot.
A Lux short movie, starring Dian Sastro, "Bukan Kesempatan yang Terlewat".
All three ladies agreed that no matter how much mandi was done it was all useless unless women "had brains". Luna Maya said girls with little life experience who couldn't engage in conversation never …

Comment by tomaculum: … conversation never appeared beautiful, no matter what …

Islamic Olympic Games

Hosting the Islamic Games in Serang is Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah's new obsession.

The Governor of Banten province, Ratu Atut Chosiyah , fresh from playing host to a national Quranic recital contest, the 22nd Musabaqah Tilawatil Quran Nasional (MTQN) in Serang, has a new, she says
obsession

to make Banten the host of the Islamic version of the Olympic Games, for the …

Comment by Irman: … that happened in indonesia that based on …

Mega 2009

… , and her chances of success largely seem to depend on forming the best coalition, and having an appealing running-mate, or at least one more appealing than her 2004 partner, dull Hasyim Muzadi. These are the names which are usually mentioned in this respect:

Akbar Tandjung
Wiranto
Sultan Hamengkubuwono X
Hidayat Nur Wahid
Sutiyoso

Other figures who have been mentioned in the past:

Agung Laksono
Jusuf Kalla
Din Syamsuddin

Megawati's best chance of …

Comment by shorty: … skills, populist appeal based on sentiment and emotion, …

Pocong Horror

… bet to draw in audiences, says one Tasha Hadifitri. This is not entirely a problem by itself, the appalling standard of the films is however.

The main point of the films, says Tasha, is just to show as much gore and violence as possible, without bothering whether the story makes sense, and the producers keep re-using the same figures of horror in each film, like the dreaded hopping/floating pocong ghost, or the kuntilanak vampire.

A Pocong.

Tasha goes on to complain that such …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … behind such crappy Indonesian films: They are …