The take-home for lovers of Indonesian contemporary art is clear: if we don’t defend the freedom of artistic expression, they won’t just rewrite history—they’ll script the future for us too.| Indonesia at Melbourne
As the dust settles, there are questions about the tragic incident that need answering. How could such a huge construction failure occur? What lessons can be learned to prevent similar incidents in the future? And what are the implications of this disaster for religious education administrators and the general public?| Indonesia at Melbourne
Diaspora attitudes changed dramatically on the night of 28 August. The killing of Affan Kurniawan—a 21-year old Gojek driver—by an armoured police car was captured in multiple viral videos. It shook many Indonesians to the core.| Indonesia at Melbourne
In this episode of Talking Indonesia, Clara Siagian and Tito Ambyo speak with Dian Tri Irawaty, Program Director at Rujak Center for Urban Studies, about the ongoing struggle for housing rights in Jakarta's kampung communities.| Indonesia at Melbourne
For ordinary consumers, fuel problems are never isolated because they quickly affect transport costs, logistics and daily spending.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, the plain-speaking senior economist who was recently appointed Indonesia’s new finance minister, can’t be more different to Sri Mulyani, his reformist predecessor who led the country’s fiscal policymaking for more than a decade.| Indonesia at Melbourne
After recent major demonstrations, including #PeringatanDarurat (EmergencyWarning), #IndonesiaGelap (DarkIndonesia) and #ResetIndonesia, the public sphere in Indonesia has become increasingly fragmented.| Indonesia at Melbourne
What and who was behind this ‘rewriting’ history project? What were their motives? What ‘red flags’ most alarmed historians and others, and ultimately what can be done to resist and possibly reverse the course of this project?| Indonesia at Melbourne
A key concern from the recent Indonesian riots is the targeting of private residences of legislators and technocrats—an emerging development. Historically, rioters focused on commercial areas, malls, and vehicles. Yet, influenced by Nepal’s example circulating on Indonesian social media, protesters have shifted toward attacking the homes of politicians and officials. While provocateurs may be orchestrating this trend, the normalization of such targets risks making attacks on private resid...| Indonesia at Melbourne
To counter the government’s foreign agent narrative, civil society organisations (CSOs) need to respond in a strategic manner. First, they should make transparency a top priority by making public the sources of their funding and allowing their activities to be checked by independent groups. This will preempt allegations of foreign influence. For example, CSO involved in past demonstrations, such as the 2019 protests, should publish verified donation reports.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Indonesia’s strategic location, which includes vitally important international seaways such as the Malacca, Lombok, and the Sunda Straits, is critically important for all navies operating in the Indo-Pacific.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The wave of protests that has broken out in Pati cannot be seen simply as anger at a single government policy; it is as an eruption of dissatisfaction that has been building for years.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The sight of the military swarming the streets to prevent student protesters from disrupting a DPR plenary session brought back memories of President Soeharto’s New Order, when soldiers were an integral and oppressive part of Indonesian political and social life.| Indonesia at Melbourne
A state that monitors its citizens without restraint is no longer protecting its people.| Indonesia at Melbourne
Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, popularly known as Haji Isam, a young businessman from South Kalimantan, has become the new poster boy for Indonesia’s oligarchy.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The question is — what if, far from constraining him, the current oligarchic configuration will enable Prabowo to unleash his wildest autocratic desires?| Indonesia at Melbourne
Prabowo’s account of democracy places greater value on civility and cohesion than on contestation and debate.| Indonesia at Melbourne
A bizarre bamboo fence that has appeared in waters off the coast of Tangerang, Banten, has made national headlines across Indonesia in the last few weeks.| Indonesia at Melbourne
The Constitutional Court’s ruling is a breath of fresh air for more inclusive, transparent, and competitive presidential elections in Indonesia| Indonesia at Melbourne
NU turning a blind eye to the downsides of coal mining could be seen as a major boost for the coal industry and end up derailing efforts to fight global warming.| Indonesia at Melbourne
