Law

Reforms give no improvement in the courts for ordinary people

New Human Rights Court fails victims’ calls for justice.

Why do people in Banyuwangi kill ‘sorcerers’?

New anti-domestic violence law brings hope for women.

Will a positive start for the Constitutional Court lead to practical changes for ordinary citizens?

Legal reform must overcome a history of authoritarian development

Indonesia’s brave experiment in reinventing its legal system

In his last interview, Pramoedya kept up his attack on elitism and corruption.

Some Christian and Muslim leaders view the new Ministerial Decree on Houses of Worship as restrictive.

Indonesia has made only some legislative progress toward religious freedom, but the greatest freedom is the openness of debate.

Which Dongi people should be compensated for land?

Workers unite to win severance pay for retrenched Securicor Indonesia employees.

Review: Both books illustrate the way the Suharto family exploited Indonesia

The following excerpts are taken from a diary of letters kept by an Australian woman who lived in Java, Kalimantan and Bali for nine years. In this letter, written in January 1978, the author describes her visit to a detention camp for women political prisoners Just after Christmas 1977. The prisoners have since been released. The letter begins with a description of the long drive from Semarang west to Pelantungan where the camp was located up in the mountains. The visit was arranged by a Dutch pastor, 'Co'. Fenton-Huie was accompanied by the pastor's wife, Phia, and a Dutch nursing sister, Truus. After abandoning their car which could not travel the last stretch of the rough rocky road, the women had to walk the final kilometres to the camp, which also held 40 delinquent boys. The visitors shared a simple Indonesian meal in the house of one of the guards before entering 'a large barracks-type hall' to witness the camp's Christmas concert.