New Indonesian activists alliance calls for national protest action A new alliance or united front organization was formed in January in Indonesia to fight the current neo-liberal policies of the Indonesian government. Its leaflet calling for a January 28 protest action lists 17 organisations. These include student and trade union organizations (including transport and electricity […]
Indonesia, the new Pacific solution? Refugee rights and social justice in the Asia Pacific
Public forum: Indonesia, the new Pacific solution? Refugee rights and social justice in the Asia Pacific Date: Tuesday, 08 December 2009 Time: 18:00 – 20:00 A discussion forum with Pamela Curr and Setyo Budi Presented by Indonesia Solidarity Forum and the University of Melbourne Indonesian program Pamela Curr – Long term refugee rights activist and […]
INDONESIA: Education and social inequality
From the 1986-2006 cohort of students who entered first year of primary school in 1986: 27% did not finish primary school; 55.8% did not finish junior high school; 75.5 did not finish senior high school. (ESR, World Bank, 2007) Only 7 % of student who finished school came from the poorest 20% of the population. […]
INDONESIA: The President has dismissed the head of the national police
Why has President Yudhoyono not dismissed the head of the Indonesian national police as a response to the scandal the confrontation, or turf war, between the National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission? Why has no leader of any parliamentary party a clear and strong call for such a dismissal? Perhaps they all remember what happened […]
INDONESIA: Documentary review: “Tjidurian 19”.
Tjidurian 19, directed by Lasja Susatyo and M. Anduh Aziz, screned Jakarta, November 17, 2009 This film is about some of the people who were leading writers and artists in the Peoples Cultural Institute (LEKRA) in the 1960s. LEKRA was aligned with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), and like the PKI was banned after 1965. […]
INDONESIA: Parliament represents less than half the people
“The number of voters represented by the nine political parties that obtained seats in the national House of Representatives (DPR) following the 2009 legislative elections is less that who are not represented.” Kompas, November 13, 2009 James Balowski from the APSN website has translated and circulated the following KOMPAS newspaper article. For more background to […]
REVIEW MUSINGS: Analysing “Poor Peoples’ Movements”
Indonesian politics and Poor People’s Movements: Why They Succeed, How They Fail by Francis Fox Piven and Richard A. Cloward.
Ominous news for Indonesian labour
“Other major concerns with investors — the country’s onerous labour laws and the “spectre of exorbitant costs” in cases where companies have to retrench — are also going to be addressed, Pangestu [Indonesian Minister for Trade] said, while still protecting workers’ rights.” “while still protecting workers’ rights” …. hmmmm The current minimum wage in Indonesia is set […]
Bali, 1969, 1972
26 October, 2007 I have heard them referred to as “Hindu eyes” presumably a reference to some distant Indian originating Aryan genes. His eyelids were bigger than most peoples, kind of half shutting down over the eyeball. But they didn’t droop at all, it was just how they were. Steady half shut but big and […]
FARMERS AND FESTIVALS: Looking back at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Bali, Indonesia
Probably more than 500 people registered to attend the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (URWF), held in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia in October. I think there were at least 100 writers also making presentations, participating on panels, and launching books. Included among the 100 writers were around 20 Indonesian writers, representing a steady increase in the […]
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