This Christmas appears likely to be a gloomy one for the congregation of GKI Yasmin, writes Stuart Ranfurlie, a freelance journalist in Jakarta.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Gillard adds ‘ballast’ to shore up Indon relationship
Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is continuing at its all-time high following the conclusion of the East Asia Summit in Bali.
A form guide to Indonesia’s presidential contenders and pretenders
Indonesia’s next presidential election may still be three years away, but that has done little to dampen speculation over who will put themselves forward, writes Stuart Ranfurlie, a freelance journalist in Jakarta.
Wanted: Indonesian President with something to say
Indonesians all over the country have taken to the streets today on the one-year anniversary of Yudhoyono’s re-election, not for something the president has done, but for everything he hasn’t done, writes Angela Dewan.
Wright: You snooze, you lose Slipper
The sneaky infamous snap of Peter Slipper catching 40 winks during SBY’s address to Parliament enraged Slipper so much that he called for the privileges committee to examine who snapped it.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Rudd & Abbott should be more like Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Crikey readers weigh in on the visit from Indonesia’s president, clarifying yesterday’s tips about the NSW public service changes and the attempt by journos to discredit Mike Rann.
Yudhoyono: Prepare for the Asian century
Indonesia is “more than a beach playground with coconut trees” or a “hotbed of Islamic extremism”. Australia needs to ditch the stereotypes, said Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a speech to parliament.
Sheridan: Nice neighbourly visit but no substance
The visit by Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been a positive love fest for all involved, writes Greg Sheridan. But Tony Abbott has been outshining our wannabe statesmen PM.
Rudd and Yudhoyono to dine over the ‘new’ Indonesia
As Australia and Indonesia increasingly move down the same political path, the “misunderstandings” are disappearing. The visit to Australia by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono marks an important step.
Rudd and Yudhoyono: We’re the greatest of pals
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Kevin Rudd have jointly penned a slightly odd op-ed on the “enduring partnership” between Australia and Indonesia.
Grattan: The Indonesian Solution becomes the Indonesian problem
Regardless of any slick deals that Kevin Rudd and the Indonesian president have made, Indonesian officials are angry at being used as Australia’s dumping ground and Rudd can’t guarantee children won’t be behind bars, writes Michelle Grattan.
Australia bends over for the ‘Indonesia Solution’
The motivating factor for the Indonesia Solution is not the government’s supposed humanitarian concerns, but the “dog-whistle politics” of racism in the immigration debate, writes Damien Kingsbury.
Rather than feed xenophobia, Rudd should push diplomacy
There is much more Australia could do to aid the plight of refugee Sri Lankan Tamils, writes Bruce Haigh. And how Kevin Rudd chooses to handle this diplomatic crisis will be a defining political moment.
Grattan: Where to now for asylum seekers?
How times have changed since John Howard and Tampa, notes Michelle Grattan. Kevin Rudd’s relationship with Indonesia is strong and the Opposition’s ‘Labor are immigration softies’ line falls flat.
Papuan shootings: we will probably never know the truth
Papua is a media black hole with foreign journalists rarely permitted to report from the province. The true story behind the latest shootings of 29-year-old Australian Drew Grant and security guard Markus Ratealo will probably never be revealed.
SBY’s winning formula from hairstyles to jingles
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s win is a foregone conclusion. He played the media to present himself as an intelligent, patient and serious candidate (with great hair).
The road ahead for SBY
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should win Indonesia’s presidency with a landslide. What lies ahead sounds exhausting: cleaning up a corrupt and creaking bureaucracy, overhauling the judiciary, beefing up infrastructure and more.
Political snippets: Wine powder: for when a cask is just too classy
Meaty chunks from Richard Farmer on Indonesia’s elections, innovation in the wine industry, casualties in Afghanistan and more.
A win for Yudhoyono and democracy
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono looks set to easily win Indonesia’s Presidential election, with a minimum of violence and corruption — and that’s the real win.
Letter from...: Indonesia heads to the polls
Today Indonesia will head to the polls to directly elect its president, for only the second time ever in history, freelance Australian journalist Ashlee Betteridge reports from Jakarta.
Indonesia: the economy and the election
Indonesia is one of the rare countries whose economy is set to expand this year, says the IMF. And heading into the election, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is getting the credit.
Indonesia’s presidential election: more of the same
Despite high unemployment, poverty rates and his campaign slogan — “more of the same” — Indonesia’s president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono looks set to be re-elected in the country’s upcoming elections.
Indonesia steps up anti-corruption measures
The former deputy governor of Bank Indonesia — and brother-in-law of President SBY — has been sentenced to 4½ years jail for corruption. It’s a sign that Indonesia is taking graft seriously.
Indonesia’s post-election shake-up
Indonesia’s political parties are now jockeying to form coalitions in a major re-ordering of that country’s political landscape.
