Ever the opportunist, at its national congress on June 16-20 the Islamic based Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) – known for its anti-US stance – announced it was seeking stronger links with the US to counter its exclusive image and broaden its political base.

Yogyakarta – Scores of Papuans from the group Solidarity for Papua (SUP) held a protest action at the Yogyakarta monument in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Monday June 21.

Kid: The Republic of Clowns League welcomes the world cup!

Jakarta – The handling of foreign refugees that enter Indonesia, which are often referred to as illegal immigrants, is still of concern. This is because Indonesia has still not ratified the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol.

Jakarta – The law that serves as a basis for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to ban the circulation of books is no longer contextual or relevant under the current situation.

Man: Don’t forget them (TV reads ‘South Africa 2010’)

For most Indonesians, the allegations of bribery and corruption surrounding South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup are all to familiar.

Yogyakarta – Activists from the Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan, formerly LMND-PRD) opposing planned increases to the basic electricity rate (TDL) next July held an action in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Wednesday June 16.

Mojokerto – Scores of activists from the Independent Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNBPI-Independent) held a protest action and distributed leaflets in front of the Mojokerto municipal government offices in East Java on Tuesday June 15.

Jakarta – The government does not feel that it needs to get concerned about military cooperation with the United States, including over assurances about continued restoration of joint training between the two country’s special forces.

Jakarta – The widespread use of political image projection, including in the recent elections of regional heads, is further driving up the cost of competing in elections. Political costs are being sapped to pay for survey institute services and political consultants. This is the “big harvest” for political consultants.

Tongue reads Aspiration fund

M Zaid Wahyudi – The growing number of ordinary people’s votes that are needlessly lost is a direct consequence of the application of an increasingly higher parliamentary threshold.

Lia Harahap, Jakarta – Three people wearing masks with pictures of pigs on them brought a clay earthen pitcher. They also waved monopoly money in the air.

Man: It’s looking more and more crooked yeah...? (Bag reads aspiration fund)

While environmental groups have welcomed a promised moratorium on deforestation as part of a deal with Norway to protect Indonesia’s rain forests, they say the details remain vague and question whether it will have much impact unless it is extended to existing concessions.

Yogyakarta – Demonstrators from the People’s Challenge Alliance (ARM) held a protest action at the University of Gajah Mada (UGM) traffic circle in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Thursday June 3 calling for the world’s people to unite against imperialism for the national liberation of Palestine.

Reza Yunanto, Jakarta – Anti-Israeli demonstration will continue to rock the capital city today. The United States Embassy and the United Nations representative office will be the targets of demonstrators.

Israel’s attack on a convey of six ships transporting humanitarian assistance for Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla, in international waters, resulted in the death and injury of civilians

1st Man: Tomorrow we commemorate the birth of Pancasila, remember?

2nd Man: When will it be put into practice?...

Despite the recent rift in the pro-government coalition and the continuing outcry over the Lapindo mudflow disaster, regional elections in Sidoarjo, East Java, have seen the Democrat and Golkar parties joining forces to back candidates from Lapindo Brantas Inc, the company widely blamed for the massive social and ecological disaster that has inu