Stories about Indonesia from February, 2006
Indonesia: Presidents Day
I'm your huckleberry feels democracy has given a better choice of presidents to Indonesia.
Indonesia: Blog to You
Indonesian blogger Nagasundani asks “What is blog to you?” Some people, he says, write about their own life. His own answer: “For me this blog helps me to develop my writing and capture my imagination on spot. How deep I can write about sex, dirty things, evil inspiration, anything far...
Indonesia: Mining Politics
Yosef Ardi reflects on the long involvement of U.S. mining company Freeport McMoran in Indonesian politics. Freeport, which operated a massive mine — the largest copper and gold mine in the world — in Irian Jaya (now West Papua) province, is shutting down its operations.
Indonesia: Tattoo Culture
IndCoup discusses tattoo culture in Indonesia. He explains: “The revival owed much to the popularity in Indonesia during the mid 1990s of US rock bands the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns and Roses, both of which flaunted the sexual appeal of tattoos.”
Indonesia: Terrorist Blogger
A. Fatih Syuhud asks: “Are you the terrorist blogger?” He writes: “Blogging should be made use for advocating peace at heart and mind, not only for the sake of blogging and attracting traffic by making any provocative statements in the name of freedom of expression.”
Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand: Globalization Mini-Stories
Cafe Salemba has two mini-stories of globalization, both in-flight: one involving an encounter on an American on a plane who works for a Japanese company and another about Japan Airlines practice of hiring Thai stewardesses.
Indonesia: Model Returns
Indonesian model and blogger Tiara Lestari, who controversially posed for a European edition of Playboy and who now lives in Singapore, is returning to Indonesia for a photo shoot. She expresses her trepidation at the trip: “Will they accept me as a model who is trying to be a better...
Indonesia: Electric Growth
Sarapan Ekonomi critiques John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman: “His self declared crime — inflating the forecast of electrical demand to force Indonesia into bankruptcy — has turned into an important engine of Indonesia’s economic growth since the early 1970s.”
Indonesia: Blog aggregators, President's new site and Prophet Muhammad Cartoon
GVO, Indonesia post about Indonesian Blog aggregators, Indonesian President's new site and Prophet Muhammad Cartoon
Indonesia: Begging, the Question
The Lucretius Plan, which is setting up an NGO in Flores, Indonesia, struggles over writing an email asking for donations from family and friends. “I find it hard asking people for donations, partly because I am anxious about being disappointed by the response.”
Indonesia: Thoughts on Nationalism
Once Upon a Weblog wonders what nationalism means for Indonesians, and worries whether the elite has hijacked it: “To them nationalism has revolved into an instrument for manufacturing consent in order to legitimize socioeconomic and political interest of political groups.”
Indonesia: Aceh Canings
Indonesia Matters talks about public canings in Aceh, which have been permitted as a result of the autonomous province's application of Islamic law.
Indonesia: Judging Kalla
Jakartass tries to figure out Indonesia's vice-president Josef Kalla.
Indonesia: Simulating TV Reality
Inspired by an Economist article about how the U.S. military hires Hollywood production companies to make their combat training simulations more realistic, Indonesia Anonymus guesses what would happen if the Indonesian military hired local TV soap producers to run their simulations. One possibility: “There will be a lot of screaming,...
Indonesia: Education or Infrastructure
Cafe Salemba reconstructs a debate between one of the posters and a “gorgeous lady” regarding which factor plays the most important role in growth: education or infrastructure?
Indonesia: The Curse of Plenty
Once upon a Weblog reflects on Indonesia's tragic abundance: “The country practically has everything necessary to develop into a successful nation: copper, tin, gold, forests, minerals, and oil–the black gold. Its wealth, as well as the strategic location, is supposed to be a blessing for Indonesians. However, after 60 years...
Indonesia: Paying for Journalism
On Indonesia's Press Day, Yosef Ardi wonders who will pay for good journalism.
Indonesia: Friendster and Islamic Affiliation
Indonesia Matters searches Friendster to find out with which local Islamic movement most Indonesian youth online affiliate themselves. His conclusion: the most popular Islamic party among the hip, connected, urban young who populate Friendster happens to be the one of the most Islamist.
Indonesia: Creeping Islamic Law
Indonesia Matters worries about Islamic-law-based ordinances that are being passed at the regional level across Indonesia.
