Banning CIA book Nov 29, 2008
But the book contains other more serious aspects of Indonesian history that has been kept from Indonesians for decades. Indonesians are entitled to find out this information for themselves. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Fallout fears from Bali executions Nov 6, 2008
The attacks in Bali's tourist district were the bloodiest in Indonesian history [GALLO/GETTY ... The attacks in Bali in the evening of October 12, 2002 were the most bloody in Indonesian history. (Aljazeera.net)
Cigarette price controversy Oct 28, 2008
The anti-porn bill defies Indonesian history and its reputation as a secular state. Moreover, it merely appears to support men's collective neurotic behavior around women. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Batik takes center stage at Youth Pledge event Oct 28, 2008
The Youth Pledge marks a milestone in Indonesian history. On Oct. 28, 1928, youths from various cultures and areas gathered together to pledge their allegiance to "one country, one nation, one language: Indonesia". (Jakarta Post, Indonesia)
Specially Yogya Oct 10, 2008
Replete with a rich culture, home to high art, bastion of education, paragon of Javanese sentiment and epicenter of Indonesian history, Yogyakarta is not just a city or a way of life -- it is a state of mind. The Sultanate of Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat was established in the mid-18th century when colonial Dutch rulers divided the preceding Mataram kingdom in two. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Wahyu Nusantara Aji: The forgotten 200 millionth citizen Sep 3, 2008
Wahyu Nusantara Aji has a special place in Indonesian history -- he is the country's 200 millionth citizen. The 11-year-old was given a special birth certificate and named a "son of the state" when he was born on Feb. 4, 1997. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
In search of Mohammad Natsir's spirit in Islamic Revivalism Aug 3, 2008
On the other hand, the historical orientation of Indonesian cultural Islam is Indonesian history. This is the reason why cultural Islam's references in Indonesia usually go back to the Wali Sanga (the local nine saints who propagated Islam to Java). (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
East Timor: 'An unfortunate chapter?' Jul 22, 2008
As a consequence of his statement, he has created a new chapter in the culture of impunity, which has been a part of Indonesian history since Soeharto's rise to power in the 1960s. From the beginning, some human rights bodies thought the establishment of the CTF by both governments was suspicious. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
ASEAN regimes Jul 17, 2008
As Indonesian history shows, authoritarian regimes may generate a facade of institutional stability, but this comes at the cost of growing social unrest which festers into eventual turmoil. For the better part of 40 years, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was a caucus of dictators. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Former spy arrested for human rights campaigner's murder Jun 21, 2008
"President Yudhoyono stated that the case of Munir is a test case for Indonesian history. It's a test for Indonesia, whether Indonesia has changed or has not changed," he said. "Compare with the case of crimes against humanity in East Timor that was brought to the legal process - there was no single formal military personnel, formal military agenda. It was in detention, who has detained by the authorities.". (ABC Online)
How would president Soeharto have rated on good governance? Jun 10, 2008
Former president Soeharto's passing away marked a milestone in Indonesian history. His demise stirred emotions, with media coverage feeding heated debate in boardrooms, bedrooms and on the street. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Business)
National resurgence through the eyes of artists May 30, 2008
But National Awakening Day seems like a controversial, almost disputed, holiday in Indonesian history. In 1948, three years after Indonesia's independence, former president Sukarno referred to the Budi Utomo as a historical milestone in the process of the nation's rise. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Kraton's reminder of bygone splendors Feb 22, 2008
Yogyakarta is well known as a cultural center and plays an important role in both Javanese and Indonesian history and heritage. There are numerous places of interest to be seen in the city and its surroundings. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
SBY orders Pertamina to gear up for Natuna block Feb 20, 2008
However, Pertamina previously said the investment could soar to as much as $52 billion, making it the largest investment in Indonesian history. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia spokeswoman Deva Rachman told The Jakarta Post the company had not yet been advised by the government on this plan. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Business)
The legacy of Soeharto Feb 3, 2008
Everyone has their own perspective in explaining the big guy in Indonesian history. Some who benefited during his reign will say Soeharto is a half-god man. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Suharto's legacy: Worry about the Future Jan 28, 2008
With the passing of Suharto, many observers will be tempted to declare an end to the authoritarian chapter of Indonesian history. So long as Suharto lived, there was no hope of closure or compensation for the more egregious excesses of his three-decade rule because of the impunity he enjoyed. (International Herald Tribune)
Last days of the general: Suharto's legacy Jan 27, 2008
"It's an indication of the reluctance to recognise the darker elements of Indonesian history.". The media, however, has flourished in the past decade and is now free to report on corruption and injustices, and, as Suharto lay dying in hospital in recent weeks, could cover every tiny, most intimate detail of the condition of an old general who for years ensured they were censored or shut down. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
When Soeharto's privacy becomes public knowledge Jan 15, 2008
The purpose of this article is not to judge the lawyers of the former president Soeharto, from a legal or ethical perspective, but to try and see how their strategy will affect post-1998 Indonesian history. Since stepping down as president, Soeharto has been hospitalized almost a dozen times. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Choose your fetish: Pink, plaid or punk? Dec 19, 2007
It's a juxtaposition of two unlikely symbols: the gun is the violence inherent in Indonesian history, while the Burberry plaid fabric reflects the obsessive and excessive value we put on branded goods, which should normally exist only in an affluent and established society. The linking of these two images is deeply ironic in the context of a poverty-rich Indonesia. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Indonesian intellectuals must raise their voices Dec 7, 2007
Among official and yet blatant vandalism in Indonesia is the burning and destroying of books on Indonesian history in many cities by many local governments. These books are assumed to contain misleading information about the uprising of the Indonesian Communist Party in 1965. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Statue honors teacher who became great leader Nov 30, 2007
Sudirman himself is something of a heroic and symbolic figure in Indonesian history and this monument seems to reflect that. The monument and the museum sit in a small but pleasant park at the western entry point into the town center of Purwokerto, almost as if a guardian for the town at one of its entrance gates. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Community groups breathe new life into city's heritage Nov 9, 2007
Community Concerned with Indonesian History and Culture (KPSB), better known as Komunitas Historia, was established in 2003 by Asep Kambali, a history graduate from the State University of Jakarta (UNJ). Historia is well-known for its heritage trip, Jakarta Trails, and has a mailing list with some 1,600 subscribers. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- City)
In search of Indonesia's Chinese national heroes Nov 9, 2007
For more than 30 years during the New Order regime, ethnic Chinese were not mentioned in Indonesian history books. Any Chinese-related festivities or cultural performances were prohibited. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
G30S a nagging wound Indonesia eager to deny Sep 29, 2007
Although many at the time described the incident as a complex conflict, involving not only elements in the Indonesian military and Prime Minister Mohammad Hatta's government, but also the interests of the Western and the Communist blocks of the Cold War, Indonesian history -- as taught in schools here -- simplifies the tragedy as merely a "communist revolt". Descriptions of the events of September 1965 that preceded the downfall of President Sukarno were simplified in a similar way during the... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
'Opera Jawa': Traditional mixed with contemporary Sep 9, 2007
Garin Nugroho has indeed created a valuable document of Javanese traditional story, music and dance and blended it with modern Indonesian history and contemporary arts, in a wonderful way. This is a must-see movie for art, music and film lovers; if you know and love Yogyakarta, you will lose yourself in it and never want to come out. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
`Masa Lalu' looks back to look forward Aug 28, 2007
The responses of six artists to research done by historians of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM) make for a small but powerful exhibition of artwork transcending the borders of sectoral preoccupations and several pivotal eras in Indonesian history, as well as traditional and contemporary media ... Agus Suwage, Eko Nugroho, Irwan Ahmet, Prilla Tania, Wimo Ambala Bayang and Yuli Prayitno are the artists now showing their works in media as diverse as paper and paint, canvas, fabric,... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
History largely a question of culture Aug 19, 2007
More than 30 years of dictatorship have triggered a range of factors that constrain open access to Indonesian history. Up to this day, historically crucial events of the 20th Century, like colonization by the Dutch, Sukarno's and Soeharto's seizure of power and the genocide experienced by those accused of being communist sympathizers in Indonesia subsequently, remain enshrouded in mystery. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
The teaching of critical thinking skills Aug 14, 2007
Critical thinking for Indonesian students, are especially of utmost inmportant on the question of modern Indonesian history. For more than 3 decades , during the entire period of the Orba, students were made to believe of the lies and manipulation by the regime of Indonesian modern history, as the only truth. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Was Soeharto the equal of Sukarno? Aug 12, 2007
Former president Soeharto is a prominent figure in Indonesian history and society ... These include The Healthy Soeharto (2006) and Soeharto from the dark side of Indonesian History (2004) by Asvi Warman Adam, The fall of Soeharto and Transition to Indonesian Democracy (2006) by Denny JA and The longest days approaching President Soeharto's step-down (2005) by James Luhulima ... As Retnowati explains in her foreword, she wrote the book in English so that people around the world would better... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Govt told to revise law on crimes against state Aug 9, 2007
In the last two months, the Attorney General's Office has destroyed thousands of Indonesian history textbooks for failing to clearly identify the now-banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) as being behind the failed Sept. 30, 1965, coup ... "The government has made these laws tools to prevent citizens from seeking the truth behind the bloody movement and to prevent historians from rewriting Indonesian history," he said. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia)
Jakartans discover the joy of reading Jun 5, 2007
The stand sells books ranging from old comics, including wayang comics and those about local superheroes, to literature, Indonesian history, books about the world wars, autobiographies and more. "I love classic books, but I can't afford to buy them here," said Fahmi, an activist who was looking for a copy of Doctor Zhivago. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- City)
Monas: Shaft of hope and glory May 27, 2007
Instead, there are about 30 or 40 dioramas (little model tableaus) depicting Indonesian history. It's all very interesting to walk around; however, there are a few bones of contention when we come to the Soeharto era. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
The courage to debate the DPD May 25, 2007
Indonesian history has shown that the politics of the regions are as important as the politics of ideology. Regional diversity, the protection of indigenous rights, resources conservation and the development of Indonesia's economy based on local comparative advantages are just a few examples of the issues that fall within the domain of regional politics. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
* Indonesia's secret gardens of golf May 16, 2007
Playing this hilly course, you get a look at recent Indonesian history X environmental, economic and political. Beyond the trees and other colorful flora on the course, the terraced hillsides are scarred and denuded X an all-too-familiar sight in Indonesia, and which partly explains why rains in February triggered horrific floods. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Newmont Acquitted In Indonesia Pollution Case May 5, 2007
Ending the longest criminal trial in Indonesian history, Newmont Mining and one of its top executives were cleared by a court Tuesday on charges that it had dumped dangerous amounts of toxic mining waste in a bay on Sulawesi Island, endangering the health of local villagers and wildlife. The not-guilty verdict, coming three years after charges were first leveled against the world s second-largest gold miner and its 67-year-old Indonesia chief, Richard Ness, might help restore some confidence to... (Forbes)
Newmont cleared of pollution charges Apr 26, 2007
The judge ruled that the bay isn't polluted, based on evidence presented during a 21-month trial, one of the longest criminal proceedings in Indonesian history. The court also said the company was in compliance with all regulations and permits during its eight years of operation from 1996 to 2004. (Denver Business Journal, CO)
Newmont Exonerated in Indonesia Trial Apr 24, 2007
Ruling on evidence presented during the 21-month trial, one of the longest criminal proceedings in Indonesian history, the court held that Buyat Bay is not polluted. It further found, as PTNMR contended, that the company was in compliance with all regulations and permits during its eight years of operations from 1996 to 2004. (PR Newswire)
Keeping the past alive Apr 22, 2007
At first sight, they may seem useless but they mean a lot to Indonesian history. I was able to learn a lot from this trip and could enrich my mind with the concept of preserving our national heritage. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Preserving our identity Apr 22, 2007
These pieces come from various periods in Indonesian history. They vary from the prehistoric to 800,000 years ago. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Heri Prastowo cracks down on drugs Apr 13, 2007
On Aug. 29, Tangerang Police confiscated the crystal methamphetamine worth Rp 600 billion -- it was the second biggest drug bust in Indonesian history, following the November raid of a drug-manufacturing factory in Cikande, Serang, Banten. The drug was packed in 95 packing cartons inside the truck, each carton holding five bars of crystal meth weighing 2 kilograms each. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
The Rise in Extremism Part II Apr 12, 2007
Growing exclusivity of religions has made the last seven years the bloodiest in Indonesian history since the 1960s ... Only a tiny percentage of Indonesian Islamists espouse violence, but that has been enough to make the last seven years the bloodiest in Indonesian history since the pogroms of the 1960s. (YaleGlobal Online Magazine, CT)
Birth of a nation viewed in sharp focus Apr 1, 2007
It's a racy chronological account of the period 1944 to 1946 and an absolutely essential text for anyone trying to understand Indonesian history and culture -- and get a grip on what's happening today. That includes Indonesians, because accounts of the past have been heavily censored by governments. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Dancing dramas of the past in Surakarta Mar 25, 2007
It also celebrates a major victory that lives on as an important event in Indonesian history and the nation's long struggle for independence. Accompanied by seven men paying obeisance in the traditional Javanese style of crouching, kneeling and shuffling forward, a total of 21 performers gracefully moved onto the stage. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
Academics, activists join forces to defy ban Mar 20, 2007
"The state is supposed to educate the nation as stipulated in the Constitution. But instead it insists on only mentioning a historical fact which is still in dispute," Indonesian History Society representative Asvi Warman Adam said last week ... In 2002, during the presidency of Abdurrahman Wahid, a number of noted historians issued a different analysis of G30S in a supplement to the state's version of Indonesian history and distributed it to schools. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- City)
Our neighbour, and yet we know little of them Mar 16, 2007
We learn zilch of Indonesian history, nothing about Australia's honourable role as diplomatic midwife at the birth of the republic's independence from the Dutch in the late 1940s. And we have little comprehension of Indonesia's contemporary struggle to emerge from the shadows of dictatorship to re-invent itself, not as the Islamist caliphate we illogically fear but as a functioning democracy. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
Book ban stirs murky memories Mar 15, 2007
"Back then, a group of historians including Taufik Abdullah and Anhar Gonggong, submitted a supplement to the white book of Indonesian history, including on issues pertaining to the G30S," the source said. The white book was the official version of events issued by the State Secretary prior to 2004. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- City)
Breaking the habits of autocracy Mar 8, 2007
The people of Indonesia have sufficient knowledge of world history, and certainly Indonesian history, to recognize that a government's assertion of control over the media is an attempt to control the thoughts of the people. The minister himself actually stated explicitly that he wants the satirical program pulled from the air because he opposes the way it might encourage Indonesians to think. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
No street rallies, please Jan 17, 2007
The nation decided to entrust the two to lead the country in the 2004 presidential election, which the world hailed as the most democratic election in Indonesian history. Any effort to seize their mandate is a betrayal of the national consensus and of democracy itself. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
The direction of Indonesia in 2007 Jan 9, 2007
The 2004 election of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the countries first directly elected President closed a turbulent but transformative chapter of Indonesian history. The democratic transition lasted six long years and was marked by unstable, uncertain government which delayed essential reforms and left the world wondering if Indonesia would after all fail. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Ford was a friend to Indonesia Jan 9, 2007
In my opinion, President Ford did a lot of great work which changed Indonesian history. He gave his approval to Indonesia to stop the expansion of communism in the region with America's full political support for the invasion of East Timor by Indonesian troops in 1976. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
