Indonesia news (page 4)
Politics, disasters and news from across Indonesia and the region.
US Treasury adds 4 names to blacklist
JI (Jemaah Islamiyah) members have been added to the US Treasury blacklist. That means their assets, should they have any, in the US can be frozen and US citizens are forbidden to have any economic…
You can contact Indonesian President SBY
Indonesian President is a ground breaking guy for many reasons. A while ago he gave out his cell phone number and invited people to call him.
Jakarta police chief asks Playboy not to publish 2nd issue
Indonesian Playboy magazine has had so much free publicity, that it sold out of its 1st copy.
Indonesia not over the 'visas for Papuans' saga'
Indonesia is still smarting (or pretending to ) over Australia's decision to grant 3 year visas for 42 Papuans. Indonesia has been in charge of Papua, formerly Irian Jaya, for over 30 years.
Java beats Bali in under 19 cricket tournament
Cricket is not not something that you might associate with Bali and Indonesia in general.
Australia to allow Indonesia to respond to any future asylum claims
Australia has decided to allow Indonesia the right to respond to any future claims for asylum.
Kissing not kosher in Tangerang Java
Tangerang Java (next to Jakarta) has passed a law that outlaws kissing in public...for longer than 5 minutes.
Indonesian Playboy launches today
Playboy, the world famous men's magazine, known as much for its interviews as its photos, went on sale in Indonesia today.
Cartoons, Papua & IndCoup
All kinds of silliness is going right now with Indonesia and Australia communicating via cartoons of each other's leaders in compromising positions.
Protests in Jakarta at labor law reform
Indonesia has a labor bill, introduced in 2003 which is favorable to the employee.
Indonesian rupiah: Best performer in region
The Indonesian rupiah is the best performing currency in the region according to the Bloomberg business wire.
Indonesian tourist figures down for February
Indonesia has a $5 billion tourist industry, $4 billion of which comes from Bali. We're not hitting those figures right now and the start of 2006 is slow according to Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
SBY wants high level meeting with Australia over ties
Indonesian President SBY wants high a level meeting with Australia to discuss the 2 country's relationship.
Indonesia is earthquake alley
The Asian tsunami of 2004 was caused by a massive undersea earthquake. Indonesia as a country is dotted with volcanoes, a sure sign that earthquakes are going to happen too.
Nias memorial goes ahead in Indonesia
A memorail service in honor of 9 Australian servicemen killed in a helicopter crash last year will go ahead on the Indonesian island of Nias.
Cartoons are for kids...I thought
Cartoons have been getting way too much attention these days, with adults behaving like 5 years olds because someone drew a nasty one.
Australia issues travel warning for Indonesia
Australia has issued a travel warning against Indonesia which includes Bali. The Australian government says it has been receiving a stream of information that points to a terrorist attack somewhere…
Howard says he won't bend to suit Indonesia
Australian PM John Howard has said that while the issue of providing visas for Papuans has caused some tension with Indonesia, his government will not bend to suit Jakarta.
Tony Blair meets with Muslim leaders in Jakarta
British PM Tony Blair met Indonesian President SBY in Jakarta yesterday and attended a meeting with senior Muslim leaders.
Greenpeace pressures Indonesia to protect forests
Indonesia has the world's worst deforestation problem. The country loses an area of forest the size of Switzerland, every year and by 2010 all the lowland forests in Kalimantan will be gone.
How many people in Indonesia?
Reading stats on Indonesia is interesting. The country is 3,200 miles long, contains over 17,000 islands and has 100 active volcanoes.
Porn bill still in the news in Indonesia
The proposed anti-porn bill, really a trojan horse for the advancement of one religion, is still hitting the headlines in Indonesia.
Indonesian spices: Revolutionary Trees - part III
Mike Hillis writes about the revolutionary trees of Indonesia. The tide changed dramatically in 1511.
Indonesia recalls its ambassador from Australia
In response to Australia giving the 42 Papuans a 3 year visa, Indonesia has recalled its Ambassador from Canberra.
Australia gives Papuans temporary protection visas
In a potentially explosive move, Australia has given Papuan asylum seekers a 3 year temporary protection visa.
Foreign businesses in Indonesia sometimes have a hard time
Indonesia offers a great opportunity for foreign firms, particualry in resource extraction.
Sweden get VOA (Visa On Arrival) to Indonesia
Sweden has been granted VOA privelages by Indonesia. This means Swedish citizens can now jump on a plane and visit Indonesia instead of having to apply for tourist visa before coming.
Giant acquarium to be built in Sanur Bali
Bali has an abundance of unique marine life, as does the rest of Indonesia. A British company plans to build a giant aquarium in Sanur as a tourist attraction and also as a way to help preserve some…
Investing in Indonesia: Even the Big Fish are nervous
Resource rich and under developed Indonesia makes an enticing target for many companies.
Indonesian immigration case sets a priority for rest of the department
Indonesian immigration officials have been caught overcharging people in the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo. The scam has been going on for over 2 years and has netted $1.2m.
Cell phones popular, but still tremendous market in Indonesia
There have been 3 revolutions in human history, the agricultural, the industrial and the information.
Indonesia: Adjust to globalization or get left behind
Indonesia faces many challenges as we head deeper into to the 21st Century. Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, Yutaka Limura is retiring from his post and offered some advice to Indonesia.
Aid agencies to be asked to leave Aceh
Indonesia will ask aid agencies to leave Aceh if they don't see concrete steps being taken to boost housing.
Maluku earthquake causes small tsunami
We are all familiar with tsunami's after the 2004 Asian tsunami left Banda Aceh destroyed. Tsunami's or 'harbor waves' can be created by landslides and earthquakes.
How Sharia Law can be implemented in Indonesia
Today I received one of those chain emails where everyone is asking everyone to sign a petition. This one is about the anti-pornography bill that might pass sometime soon.
Indonesian maids: Sometimes get a rough ride
Indonesia like the Philippines generates a part of its economy from remittances from overseas. Indonesian women work overseas as maids, mostly in other SE Asian countries and in the Middle East.
Tommy Suharto a spoilt little boy in Jakarta
Schapelle Corby is sitting in Kerobokan jail doing 20 years years for drug importation. This might seem harsh, particularly when another jail bird is living the high life.
Compromising Eden: part III
What are we searching for in our own lives that we see in those brochures? Is it the freedom to go bodysurfing in warm turquoise colored waves with your best friend?
Condi in Jakarta
US Secretary of State Condoleeeza Rice is in Jakarta at the moment, meeting with Indonesian government members.
Lombok scooter club protests pornography law
This morning I saw a photo in the Jakarta Post that made me laugh. The local scooter club in West Bali, is celebrating its 6th anniversary.
Anti-pornography law to be re-written
The proposed anti-pornography law is to be re-written. The legislator and chairman of the special committee, Balkan Kaplele, said on Sunday that the original bill will be dismantled, with key parts…
Pornography bill has everyone riled in Indonesia
The proposed anti-pornography bill has got to people across the country. Its not just the publishers of Indonesian Playboy or Tiara Lestari who are speaking out.
Kim Jong Il to visit Indonesia
North Korean President Kim Jong Il will visit Indonesia in the near future after an invite from Jakarta.
Indonesia to get US military aid
American Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld wants to re establish military ties with Indonesia . After 30 years of dictatorship, Indonesia is emerging as a new democracy.
SBY fights corruption, while old cronies complain
Indonesian President SBY has a massive task fighting corruption. Part of the problem is that corruption was / is so endemic in Indonesia that so many high ranking people were / are involved.
Tempo editor warns anti-pornography bill pushing people too far
Tempo is a magazine that has always pushed the edges of what is acceptable in Indonesia. It frequently names people and its editors have been jailed before.
Treasure: Thanks for all the hard work guys
Treasure hunters from France and Germany have been arrested in Java, after trying to ship 7 containers of Indonesian antiques back to Europe.
Exxon on the wrong end of the stick in Indonesia
Seems like big foreign corporations are being brought to justice these days. The latest case involves oil company Exxon.
Indonesia Giant laboratory
American scientists are lining up to do research in Indonesia . Whether its volcanoes, new species or ancient cultures you are interested in, Indonesia has got plenty to spare.
Muslim women protest pornography bill in Indonesia
Indonesian womens groups staged protests on Wednesday aimed at Muslim Sharia Law and the anti-pornography bill.
A cool head demands care over pornography bill
The anti-pornography bill has stirred the blood of Balinese people because of the direction it is coming from, Muslim Java.
Dress code police in Jakarta
Fundamental Islam is creeping into the spotlight again under the guise of an anti-pornography bill.
Indonesian government to crack down on child smuggling
If there is one thing Indonesia is good at producing, its people. There have been instances of child smuggling where Indonesian suppliers provide babies for couple in Singapore and other places.
Indonesian Adam & Eve
Adam & Eve scenes shown at an art display at the Indonesian Central Bank last year caused protests by the Islamic Defenders crew.
Anti-porn bill unites Indonesian bloggers
The proposed anti-porn bill in Indonesia will have wide reaching implications if passed. The anti-porn bill has united Indonesian bloggers like nothing else, writes Jakartass .
Indonesia Open Jakarta
Golf is popular with Jakarta residents, the ones who are not starving that is. There are 43 golf courses on the outskirts of Jakarta, which 99% of the locals will never get to use.
Who is Tiara Lestari?
Tiari Lestari is an Indonesian who has starred in Playboy, Penthouse and FHM magazines. I'd never heard of her before I came to Bali and have not had the chance to see her work.
Colonialism in the 21st Century
When one looks back at the history of colonialism, one sees a common thread...money. All the places that were colonized offered a quick route to some resource the colonizers couldn't get at home.
Pornography bill not popular with some people in Indonesia
The proposed pornography bill has generated a lot of chatter recently here in Indonesia.
Indonesian Pompeii on Sumbawa
Shortly after the discovery of a new ' Garden of Eden ' on the island of Papua, scientists have found an ' Indonesian Pompeii ' on Sumbawa.
Bali prisoner transfer in the pipeline
Australia's Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer is in Jakarta at the moments talking with members of the Indonesian government.
Foreigners rights to buy land in Indonesia
Buying land in Bali and building your dream house is an attractive proposition for many people. It is not as simple as it a western country however, as foreigners are not allowed to own land.
Benchongs not afraid of sharia in Aceh
Aceh has a version of the strict Muslim sharia law. This law requires women to dress in a modest way and not take part in activities deemed improper.
Indonesia will become world's #1 crude palm oil producer
With the price of crude oil going up, some countries are gearing up their fuel producing activities in other ways.
Indonesia and Australia have many issues to work on
Indonesia and Australia are neighbors and since the E.Timor incident a few years ago, have started to work together again.
Indonesian President SBY is nominated for Nobel Peace prize
President SBY is nominated for Nobel Peace prize . I know that might sound funny to outsiders, but its true.
Indonesia struggles with pornography bill
The Indonesian government is trying to bring in a new anti-pornography bill and it has not been an easy road so far.
Lee Kuan Yew visits Suharto in Jakarta
Like history revisited, a couple of old buddies got to rub up against each other yesterday.
Australian hotel owner arrested with marijuana in Lombok
The latest chapter in the mini-series 'Aussies in a Paradise Jail', stars 43 year old Barbara Kathleen Higgs , from Pinjarra, Western Australia.
Floods hit Manado in Sulawesi Indonesia
The wet season means getting dumped on for 3-4 months and dealing with leaky roofs, fungus growing everywhere and the occasional flooded street.
Indonesia behind on tsunami recovery
Over a year has passed since the Asian tsunami. Indonesia was the hardest hit country and received the most aid.
Bird Flu: Indonesia to cull chickens
The Avian flu is as global as McDonalds now, with outbreaks in Germany and the Middle East.
Bows and arrows used against mine in Papua
Indonesia has 180 native ethnic groups. Those groups range from the jungle dwelling natives of Siberut in the north, to the Sasaks on Lombok, to the Papuans in the east of the country.
Denmark's ambassador to return to Bali today
Denmark's ambassador will return to Bali today. The Danish embassy in Jakarta came unde attack, or at least serious prostest earlier this month by Muslims angry at the cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.
Religious leaders condemn cartoons and violence in Jakarta
A group of Indonesian religious leaders gathered in Jakarta to express their unity. They condemned the cartoons of Prophet Mohammed as well as the violence that followed.
Island Sportz: Bali / Indonesia's sports mag
Sports fans who live in Bali, or who are visiting Bali should pick up a copy of Island Sportz , the monthly full size mag that is all about sport in Bali and Indonesia.
Michelle Leslie looks for work in US
Convicted drug taker, Michelle Leslie is trying to work in the US . Bali's only drugs-success story, is having a hard time finding work back in Australia.
SBY's website can help your website
The internet is amazing, its the leading force behind the information revolution and allows the subverting of hierarchy.
Cartoon protests in Jakarta
A peaceful Sunday here in Bali saw Ika, Jevon and I eat lunch at Warung Jegog in Kuta before sitting under a tree on Kuta Beach.
Indonesia having a tough time fighting drug trafficking
The high profile drug cases recently highlight to the world how seriously Indonesia takes drug trafficking.
American mining firm finds big 'Solution' in Indonesia
Here's a bit of news that might cheer up the Bali Nine. Sometimes when you are in a corner and its seems there is no way out, just remember, in Indonesia there is always room for a 'Solution'.
The Press and its many forms in Indonesia
We all offer a perspective on life which is based on our experiences. Its often right, sometimes wrong and sometimes totally contradictory to our neighbor.
Earthquake in Eastern Indonesia
Indonesia is part of the Ring Of Fire, the circle of fault lines and volcanoes that ring the Pacific.
Indonesia and Russia to build space rocket launch complex
Indonesia and Russia are combining forces to build a space rocket launch complex in Eastern Indonesia. The facility will be located on the island of Biak, in a remote part of the country.
Australia and Indonesia working on prisoner exchange program
The death sentences handed down to Bali Nine kingpins, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have meant the Australian government is pushing ahead with a prisoner transfer deal with Indonesia.
Indonesia still a long way from tsunami recovery
The 2004 Asian tsunami destroyed much of Banda Aceh and left survivors groping for a way to live.
Danish Consulate to stay open in Bali
Denmark has closed its Embassy in Jakarta due to threats from an extremist group. The cartoons of Prophet Mohammed have stirred up passions around the world and the local loonies don't want to be…
SBY hitches a ride on motorbike to race track in Jakarta
Motorbikes are as ingrained in Indonesian society as rice cookers. I see 10 year old kids riding them and whole families traveling on them.
Denmark ups the level of travel warning for citizens in Indonesia
Denmark has raised the level of travel warning for Indonesia . The cartoons of Prophet Mohammed have caused a storm around the world, with threats against Denmark, its Prime Minister and attacks on…
Indonesian rupiah stronger on Friday
Indonesia's currency, the rupiah was stronger against the US dollar on Friday. The rupiah was buying / selling at 9,195 / 9,205 to the dollar, compared with Thursday's level of 9,230 / 9,240.
S. Sulawesi talks about introducing Sharia law
S. Sulawesi is talking about introducing Sharia (Islamic ) law to the region. Some parts of Indonesia, eg. Aceh already have Sharia.
Indonesia say prophets cartoon riots are unjust
The groundswell of emotion that has surrounded the drawing of Prophet Mohammed is breathtaking. There is much debate over the issue of freedom of expression vs. religious respect.
Danish travel advisory will not affect Bali tourism industry
Indonesian Tourism Community secretary general Zacky Siradz has claimed that Denmark's recent travel advisory against Indonesia will not significantly affect Indonesia's tourism industry.
Danish travel agents cancel trips to Bali
Bali just can't get a break these days. Someone breaks wind in another part of the world and somehow it comes back to Bali.
Minister of religion jailed in Indonesia
A former Minister of Religion has been jailed for 5 years in Jakarta. Said Agil Munawar served as Indonesia's Minister of Religion from 1999 to 2004.
Denmark advises nationals to leave Indonesia
Denmark has advised its citizens not to travel to Indonesia, and for Danes in Indonesia to leave .
Indonesian Garden of Eden
Scientists from the US, Australia and Indonesia have been exploring an untouched part of Indonesia.
Cartoon protests spread in Indonesia
The cartoons of Prophet Mohammed have become more famous than the Mona Lisa. Religious fanatics around the world have seized on this and used it as a lightening rod for their personal tensions.
Messing with the Prophet can get you into hot water in Indonesia
Its not just infidels who are the target of religious fundamentals. In Lombok a religious Muslim community has been attacked by another Muslim group, because their interpretation of the religion is…
SBY tells Chinese Indonesians they are equal citizens
Indonesians President SBY has told a Chinese Indonesian group, that Chinese Indonesians are equal citizens .