Indonesia, which has long prided itself on being a secular nation, is now seeing a rise in the voices and power of Islamists. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (BTP), the Chinese-Indonesian politician and former governor of Jakarta, was convicted of blasphemy for insulting the Quran when he suggested that practicing Muslims…
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES– When one thinks of Indonesia, palm oil might not be the first thought that comes to mind. Many folks remain vastly unaware of both the country’s near-existential ties with the product— and the self-destructive dangers the palm oil industry imposes on this sprawling nation’s environment. Palm oil…
TOM PLATE WRITES – Next week, it now seems, the American President will be in Singapore, along with the North Korean leader. Both are famously quirky. Is Lee worried? We pay a call on the city-state’s prime minister, host of a monster summit that – on the off-chance all goes…
TIARA SALVABILLA WRITES – Dian Erra Kumalasari is a fashion designer from Indonesia. Her line, Oerip Batik, features traditional Indonesian woven fabric and is targeted towards backpackers worldwide. The designs are ready-to-wear, conventional pieces which are different from the luxury, high fashion lines that Indonesian designers have been trying to…
ELIZABETH SOELISTIO WRITES FROM INDONESIA – This sprawling country, the world’s fourth most populous, is no stranger to internet censorship. However, the consequences of Indonesia’s recent censorship tactics are not only felt by the individual users but also by the community around them. First, there is the censorship of homosexuality…
TIARA SALVABILLA WRITES – Alchemiya, the so-called “Netflix for Muslims,” is making a play for Asia. The video on demand (VOD) service is known for shedding positive light on Muslims and Muslim culture. Since its launch in 2014 it has gained thousands of users from 10 different countries and is…
NICOLAS SWAYA WRITES – Investing in technology is not a new concept for much of the public; we in the West especially take this for granted. But in many parts of the world, such as Indonesia, investing in technology is foreign and uncommon. According to Deloitte, fewer than 1 in…
TIARA SALVABILLA WRITES – In Indonesia, social media has become the norm of everyday life. People from all sectors of society have a smartphone, tablet, or laptop in-hand. Coupled with affordable data plans, Indonesia has become one of the fastest growing countries for internet use. With a population of over…
EVA THIO WRITES – Indonesian lawmakers have started to ban LGBT activates, and police have raided popular spas, arresting hundreds of people in the process. In lockstep, the government is considering banning LGBT-related television programming in an effort to head off what one politician says could become a wave of…
AMANDA SUHARTONO WRITES – There has been an increased correlation between social media and marital problems, likely due to the growing influence of the internet in Asia. The internet has created new outlets for forming secret affairs. Engagement in social media has been the cause of 1,826 divorce cases reported…
EVA THIO WRITES – President Joko Widodo, whose approval rating has reached a remarkable 68 percent, is looking to cement his reelection with a successful hosting of the Asia Games next year. But is the country and its aging sports infrastructure up to the task? Jakarta and Palembang will host…
AMANDA SUHARTONO WRITES — Like most of the developing countries in Asia, Indonesia struggles with maintaining a decent educational system. Even as a contemporary society, Indonesia still cannot properly handle the education situation. Indonesia’s educational system has been a hot topic among political discourse. The current system is having a…
EVA THIO WRITES – President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, officially dispatched aid to the Rohingya refugees. The President sent 34 tons worth of aid to help the displaced Rohingya people fleeing Burma, Myanmar. Four Hercules planes carrying food, family kits, tents, and blankets departed for Bangladesh…
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”] ELIZABETH SOELISTIO WRITES – In early May, the former governor of Jakarta was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to two years in prison. This came shortly after he lost re-election to a Muslim opponent in a hard-fought election campaign. To…
JAMES ROYCE WRITES — Indonesia has long been the premier year-round vacation destination for millions of traveling Australians, especially among those looking to escape high-alcohol prices and expensive party lifestyles in their native home country. From Sydney Airport, a flight from from Sydney Airport to Ngurah Rai International Airport in…
JESSICA LEGASPI WRITES — Indonesian President Joko (‘Jokowi’) Widodo and Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister established a new approach to effectively elicit environmental change. Palm oil companies found responsible for clearing land through illegal burning will now be prosecuted. After Korindo, a South Korean palm oil company,…
