New Posts: Dark Horses may Foul Ongoing Democratisation; Tough Boat Policies Beneficial to Indonesia?; Risks of Perpetuating Offence

Jakarta Floods have been a major fixture in Indonesian news this week, as are the fires and heatwaves in Australia, so a big heads up to all those saturated and suffering, in particular in Jakarta, Manado, and Sulawesi. Worse floods are predicted for Jakarta next week.

Please enjoy these informative new posts:

"Anti-Reform Actors Hover over Indonesia's coming Elections," By Damien Kingsbury, January 2014. This years' election includes wildcards such as Prabowo, and with an as yet unconfirmed Jokowi in the line-up, retrograde forces buoyed by radical nationalist sentiment may stall Indonesia's democratisation.

"Abbott's Tough 'Boats' Policy May Also Help Indonesia; but at what cost?," By Ross B. Taylor, January 2014. Australia is still on the backfoot, floundering diplomatically in the face of complex humanitarian issues that divide electorates and vex neighbours.

"Face it, We cannot Afford to keep Offending Indonesia," By Tim Lindsey, January 2014. Jakarta's political response to threats to maritime sovereignty betray its sensitivity over a geography it cannot practically defend.

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Nobody can really substantiate just what is happening on the high seas between Indonesia and Australia; even Marty Natelegawa has his suspicions.

Indonesians were horrified by yet another case of maid abuse from Hong Kong; the reality of the migrant labour trade means justice must be lobbied for and many exploited women slip through the cracks.

They reckon Megawati will name Joko Widodo presidential candidate when the time is strategically right.

"The Act of Killing," better known to Indonesians as "Jagal" (butcher), could swipe an Oscar for its brutal portrayal of the 'banality of evil', but its subject matter is still hugely taboo.