http://www.thejakartaglobe.com Jakarta Globe editorials, op-ed columns and letters to the editor. en-us Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:02:32 +0700 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:02:32 +0700 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/images/jakarta-globe.gif http://www.thejakartaglobe.com http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/citizen-journalism-day-ought-to-take-its-place-alongside-national-press-day/496987 On Thursday, the country commemorated its 66th National Press Day with a ceremony that was attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. As free, critical press is essential to any healthy democracy, this is a good moment to ask ourselves: where does Indonesia stand? Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:41:57 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/citizen-journalism-day-ought-to-take-its-place-alongside-national-press-day/496987 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/the-thinker-keys-to-the-church/496974 The GKI Yasmin congregation in Bogor has been prohibited by the local administration from holding services in its church for years. The Supreme Court has ruled that revoking the church’s permit is illegal. However, GKI Yasmin and many other churches in Indonesia have not been protected from a small but vocal minority that has tried to prevent them from receiving permits to build and worship — a minority that in some cases has even organized mobs to attack them. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:09:34 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/the-thinker-keys-to-the-church/496974 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/soft-power-elusive-for-hard-edged-china/496975 At a time when the rest of the world marvels at — or perhaps dreads — China’s rise, Beijing perceives a serious weakness in its own armor: the lack of soft power. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:45:25 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/soft-power-elusive-for-hard-edged-china/496975 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/even-after-anwars-acquittal-politics-will-likely-stay-dirty/496973 Malaysia recently hit the headlines after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted of sodomy charges, although the prosecution has already filed an appeal. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:10:33 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/even-after-anwars-acquittal-politics-will-likely-stay-dirty/496973 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/occupied-with-righteous-anger/496340 No one has ever accused me of being a socialist. In fact, when I sent a Washington friend a recent picture of myself with former US deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, someone I have known for many years, his reply was typical: “I always knew you were a neocon, old man.” Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:06:20 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/occupied-with-righteous-anger/496340 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/is-atheism-illegal-in-indonesia/496337 After surviving a mob attack over a Facebook posting, 31-year-old Indonesian civil servant Alexander Aan was taken into custody by the West Sumatra police for his own safety. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:43:21 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/is-atheism-illegal-in-indonesia/496337 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-to-sustain-growth-we-must-invest-in-people/496270 The country’s strongest gross domestic growth since 1996 is definitely something to celebrate. Indonesia’s economy grew by 6.5 percent in 2011, higher than the 6.1 percent growth it posted a year earlier. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:51:56 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-to-sustain-growth-we-must-invest-in-people/496270 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/can-indonesias-new-land-law-help-its-wobbly-march-toward-joining-the-brics/496166 Indonesia’s attempts to attract foreign investment took a major leap forward in December when the House of Representatives passed long-awaited land reform legislation. Disputes over land ownership have long been one of the major impediments for improving Indonesia’s grossly inadequate infrastructure — a reality that threatens the country’s future growth. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:42:28 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/can-indonesias-new-land-law-help-its-wobbly-march-toward-joining-the-brics/496166 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/time-for-closer-ties-with-east-timor/496231 On a recent trip to East Timor, while talking to fishermen on Areia Branca Beach, hanging out with taxi drivers, getting lost cycling in Dili with its new street names, catching up with friends working for the United Nations there, having dinner with a Nobel laureate and coffee with a presidential candidate, it was clear that there is one common feeling among East Timorese: despite the misery of the past, despite the persistent problems of unemployment and poverty, the country is looking forward to a better future. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:47:11 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/time-for-closer-ties-with-east-timor/496231 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/go-ahead-steal-this-column-the-engine-of-free-expression/496164 Among the wonders of the Internet, Wikipedia occupies a special place. From its birth 11 years ago it has professed, and has tried reasonably hard to practice, a kind of idealism that stands out in the vaguely, artificially countercultural ambience of Silicon Valley. Google’s informal corporate mantra — “Don’t Be Evil” — has become ever more cringe-making as the company pursues its world conquest. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:08:14 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/go-ahead-steal-this-column-the-engine-of-free-expression/496164 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/the-thinker-ungentle-humor/496196 Moments before naming lawmaker Angelina Sondakh as a suspect in a high-profile graft case, Abraham Samad, chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, joked with journalists at his press conference last Friday. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:10 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/the-thinker-ungentle-humor/496196 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/a-year-after-the-murders-in-cikeusik-why-is-the-govt-going-soft-on-hard-liners/495971 One year ago today, Indonesia hit the headlines with the murder of three members of the Islamic Ahmadiyah sect, by a mob over a thousand strong in a small town not far from Jakarta. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:44:18 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/a-year-after-the-murders-in-cikeusik-why-is-the-govt-going-soft-on-hard-liners/495971 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-no-room-for-drug-use-among-pilots/496035 The arrest of a third Lion Air pilot for drug use should shock both the aviation industry and the authorities into taking strong action, given the grave implications for the safety of air passengers. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:01:33 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/editorial-no-room-for-drug-use-among-pilots/496035 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/after-recess-changing-the-world-one-click-at-a-time/495968 A battle between a class of fourth graders and a major movie studio would seem an unequal fight. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:18:39 GMT http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/after-recess-changing-the-world-one-click-at-a-time/495968