Obama’s Bad Prescription for Indonesia

Amy Goodman / Truthdig Mar 24, 2010 The White House is engaged in fierce behind-the-scenes negotiations with Congress on whether to restore aid to the Indonesian military, which has a habit of committing atrocities. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama Reschedules Pacific Trip, Citing Health Care, Manners

Staff / Truthdig Mar 19, 2010 The White House already postponed the president's trip to Indonesia (with a stopover Down Under) once in order to get health care done. With lobbying still to do and fears of having to cancel at the last minute, the trip has been pushed to June and could be combined with a visit to India. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Giant Earthquake Rocks Indonesian Town

Staff / Truthdig Oct 1, 2009 A whopping 7.6 earthquake hit the coastal town of Pedang, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, full force on Wednesday, causing survivors to flee in fear of a possible tsunami in its aftermath and leaving thousands more trapped under collapsed buildings. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Deadly Explosions Hit Two Indonesian Hotels

Staff / Truthdig Jul 17, 2009 The Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta were the targets of two explosions on Friday in the first such attacks in four years. Nine people were killed and 50 injured in blasts that occurred within minutes of each other, according to the Associated Press. "There are indications of suicide bombs," one official said. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Islamic Banks Presented as an Economic Model

Staff / Truthdig Mar 2, 2009 The United States spent much of the 20th century lecturing the world about how to run an economy. Clearly, we've lost some credibility in that area. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants Islamic banks, with their abhorrence of interest and gambling, to fill the void. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama ‘Madrassa’ Rumor-Monger Wanted to ‘Exterminate Jew Power in America’

Staff / Truthdig Oct 15, 2008 So, everyone has a relative, or perhaps a neighbor, who has spread warnings in hushed tones about Barack Obama's years of secret indoctrination at a Muslim madrassa (gasp!) in Indonesia -- as though affiliating with a Muslim community of any description is cause for concern -- a rumor that has been disproved many times. Here's a fun look into the origin of the chain e-mail that started that particular smear. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Controversies Live On After Suharto’s Death in Indonesia

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2008 On Monday, a day after his death, former Indonesian President Suharto was given a state funeral and buried in Java, sparking mixed reaction as Indonesians recalled both the strong points and the controversial (even despotic) sides of the man who was their nation's leader for more than 30 years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Landslides Hit Indonesia on Anniversary of Tsunami

Staff / Truthdig Dec 26, 2007 A combination of rainfall and rising tides, as well as the possible effects of deforestation, sparked landslides that buried homes and killed at least 80 people in central Indonesia on Wednesday. Thousands were forced to evacuate the Java region, and officials say the death toll may still rise. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

She’s Just Like Barbie, With a Muslim Makeover

Staff / Truthdig Oct 11, 2007 Does playing with Barbie dolls encourage young girls to adopt Barbie's (Western, secular, shopping-obsessed) values? An enterprising Indonesian woman concerned about that possibility took the basic Barbie formula and added some elements she believes will make the "Salma" doll a healthy alternative for Muslim girls. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Indonesian Earthquake Kills 70

Staff / Truthdig Mar 6, 2007 The Indonesian island of Sumatra was slammed by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday, followed shortly by a 6.0 aftershock. The event was felt in Malaysia and Singapore, hundreds of miles away. Authorities were scrambling to cope with downed communication lines, overwhelmed hospitals and shattered buildings. A government official put the death toll at 70 so far. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jakarta Is Drowning

Staff / Truthdig Feb 5, 2007 Much of the capital of Indonesia is under 10 feet of muddy water after days of torrential rain caused devastating floods. Hundreds of thousands of people already have been displaced, and experts warn that the situation may worsen, with another week of heavy rain on the way. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Playboy on Trial in Indonesia

Staff / Truthdig Dec 7, 2006 The editor of the Indonesian version of Playboy magazine is on trial for indecency in the world's most populous Muslim state. The magazine contains no nudity, but the prosecution cited the "inviting expressions" of the underwear-clad models as one of the reasons it is asking for the maximum penalty of 32 months. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )