A new mysterious political movement led by Surya Paloh, Nasional Demokrat, launches.

A smouldering civil war among the elites, Army power plays, and Chinese scapegoats.

Actresses Ayu Azhari and Desy Ratnasari have their sights on political power in Sukabumi, who will win?

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

Two clouds with silver linings, Tommy Suharto's bid for Golkar, and sharia stoning laws in Aceh.

President Yudhoyono cruises to a first round victory and a second term.

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

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.

A drive-by shooting, the anti-corruption chief accused of murder, and a beautiful golf caddy.

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

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

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

Press freedom issues over an alleged money politics scandal involving Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono.

More of the 2009 "pesta demokrasi", some of the weirder election posters and billboards.

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

President Yudhoyono's Demokrat Party has no real political enemies and appeals to everyone.

Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X of Yogyakarta goes online to launch his bid for the presidency.

Voters in Indramayu are threatened with hellfire unless the Golkar Party is supported in 2009.

Demilitarization in Papua, Aceh, and Maluku, the difficult process of removing military influence in politics.

Celebrity Islamists, including mother daughter team Emilia Contessa and Denada Tambunan, line up for the Development Party in 2009.

Has Megawati got the necessary Islamic credentials to be president, again, or does she like shopping too much.

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

Politicians waging war on poverty via billboards, and bus riding buskers in Jakarta.

Investigations into kidnapped and murdered activists of 1997/98, questioning of former generals like president Yudhoyono.

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

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

Chris Komari writes an open letter to politicians on the need for public presidential debates.

Paranormal figure Ki Gendeng Pamungkas enters the world of politics in Bogor.

Two aspirants for the presidency, Soetrisno Bachir and Prabowo Subianto, put themselves about.

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

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.

BIN intelligence chief Syamsir Siregar is accused of having too big a mouth.

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

Ross on BIN chief Muchdi's questioning by police over the murder of activist Munir.

The Sharia Banking Act is passed into law, and opposition to it from Christian legislators.

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

Confusion reigns as to whether Bali gubernatorial candidate I Gede Winasa is Muslim or Hindu, or both.

Spew looks back on the May 1998 riots and the issues of mass rapes, anti-Chinese sentiment, and how the rioters came to be judged.

The various ism problems that Indonesia faces, neo-liberalism, capitalism, imperialism, colonialism, and materialism.

Gus Dur is honoured by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, while somebody is shooting at his house.

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

Rogue Wan sees sinister forces behind the anti-Jamaah Ahmadiyah witch hunt.

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.

Whether the PDI-P is a party of thugs, Christians and communists.

Siti Fadilah Supari, struggling for Islam and Indonesia against the hegemonic bules.

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.

Ross sees the young Pramoedya Ananta Toer as a bullying commissar of literature.

The assimilation of Chinese into Indonesian society, and rules for celebrating Chinese New Year.

Corruption allegations against Bank Indonesia governor Burhanuddin Abdullah.

Just for fun... Janma interviews Indonesia Matters.

The PKS broadens its electoral and cultural horizons, in Bali.

Military men in politics and whether the Indonesian people are ready for democracy.

Suharto: Let the People Speak, Please Help Indonesia Matters do an informal poll.

Achmad's Christmas Tips on Insulting People.

Religious fanaticism, Hitler, and monkeys.

Both Islamic militants and Golkar lose in the South Sulawesi election.

The president doesn't need to be ethnically Javanese.

Little chance of a military coup in Indonesia.

The most influential women in Indonesia.

Former ruler Soeharto still has many friends.

Indonesians are divided on the question of stoning people to death for extra-marital affairs.

Soon to be ex-Governor of Jakarta, Sutiyoso, intends to run for president.

Political stability and rule of law conditions, 1996 to 2006.

Golkar's religious roadshow, led by Priyo Budi Santoso.

Ross is less than enthused about Fauzi Bowo's election as Jakarta governor.

The PKS wants no association with bra cleavage.

The dark arts are at play in the Jakarta election.