In the tumultuous years of the early 1980s, a young Indonesian military officer took part in a series of combat operations in East Timor, then under Indonesian occupation. During one military campaign in September 1983, several hundred East Timorese were killed by Indonesian troops in an incident known to history as the Kraras Massacre. As … Read more
Indonesia’s ruling party has raised concerns about the conduct of this month’s presidential election, and says it will seek official investigations into alleged violations of election laws. In comments given to Reuters, Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said that the party is seeking a parliamentary investigation of … Read more
On Wednesday, Indonesia held simultaneous elections for the presidency and its national and regional legislative assemblies. The results revealed a complex political landscape. Based on quick counts from various survey institutions and Kompas daily R&D, the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faced a setback in the presidential election but performed well in the … Read more
Around 9:30 p.m., during a campaign stop in Malang, East Java, the dancers began to be possessed by bull spirits. Islamic prayers were recited to open the ceremony. Then music blared from speakers, whips cracked, and incense was heavy in the air as the participants in the bantengan, pairs draped in cloth like a pantomime … Read more
As the political horizon of Indonesia’s 2024 election emerges, the stage is set for a confrontation that mirrors the epic Bharatayudha, not in terms of physical conflict but as a battle for the soul and direction of a nation’s leadership. “Bharatayudha,” the Javanese adaptation of the Indian Mahabharata epic, symbolizes a “total war” – an … Read more
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (second from left) has lunch with presidential candidates (from left) Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, and Anies Baswedan at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 30, 2023. Credit: Facebook/Presiden Joko Widodo Advertisement Two of Indonesia’s three presidential candidates have called on President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to remain neutral in the run-up … Read more
ASEAN Beat | Politics | Southeast Asia A number of politicians have petitioned the Constitutional Court to change from open-list proportional voting to a closed-list system. Advertisement Yesterday, Reuters news agency reported that Indonesia’s Constitutional Court will soon rule on an attempt to change the country’s voting system ahead of next year’s presidential election. According to the report, the … Read more