Talks among ASEAN leaders are often limited to political and economic issues, pushing problems with deep social and cultural roots like the persecution of ethnic Rohingya to the margins.
The Minangkabau community is empirical evidence and a case in point to understand the cultural diversity and integrative cultural patterns of Muslim communities.
The Indonesian government has back-pedalled on an announcement by the head of the country’s military that cooperation between the two countries would be suspended.
The latest PISA report shows Indonesian girls outperforming boys in all subjects. But, overall, Indonesian students are low performers among students of PISA-participating countries.
Indonesia is pushing for more infrastructure development projects. But the people relocated to make way for these projects have very little power to ensure their livelihoods are secure.
The two countries share huge marine resources and opportunities. At the same time both face increasing challenges to their oceans and coastal regions from climate change and over-exploitation.
About one-quarter of the world’s countries, both in developing and developed economies, have anti-blasphemy laws. Their implementation is always controversial and highly politicised.
Indonesia has the potential to make important contributions through academic research and the dissemination of knowledge emerging from Indonesian universities.
An enormous rally in Jakarta, organised by hardline Islamic militia group the Islamic Defenders Front, appears to have mobilised a diverse group of conservative Muslims in Indonesia.
The politicisation of academia definitely contributes to a decline in academic standards. This is a situation South Africa must work hard to avoid. It can learn from others on the continent.
Giri Ahmad Taufik, Indonesian Center for Law and Policy Studies (PSHK)
Indonesian lawmakers should ignore a push from nationalists groups to return monopoly rights over the country’s oil and gas reserved to the state oil company, Pertamina.