Against the odds, authorities seem to have managed to alleviate this year's Idul Fitri congestion. For its preparedness and timely intervention, the government deserves high praise.

The public has remained in the dark about how many military and police troops are in place in Papua.

Various opinion surveys have found Ganjar consistently took the lead, unlike Puan who has trailed far behind. 

After taking a moment to cut the cake, blow out the candles and pop the champagne, we’ll be back doing what we, over the past four decades, have striven to excel at: shining light on the tribulations and triumphs of Indonesian democracy.

The government-sanctioned long holiday season, which kicked off on Wednesday and will last until Tuesday night, is a good enough excuse to travel. Meeting relatives, joining family or high school reunions and attending religious gatherings certainly come as a bonus. 

The military’s seizure of power in February 2021 and the subsequent arrest of elected leaders, including Suu Kyi, may have resulted in a significant deterioration of human rights and democratic institutions.

Imposing a tax on all tourists in response to a handful behaving badly reeks of collective punishment and will do the industry more harm than good.

Overall, the balance of payments outlook for 2023 is good, with a manageable current account within the range of GDP plus or minus 0.4 percent. 

The government may have quashed radical and intolerant groups like the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), but inconsistent enforcement of the law, if not failure to enforce it, will only embolden other groups to rear their ugly heads.

But as efficient and brutal as the Israeli military occupation forces are, no nation would keep quiet and stand idle when its rights to existence and a decent life are threatened.               

While we must give Firli the benefit of the doubt, we cannot ignore the fact that Firli has been found guilty of ethics violations before. His appointment as KPK chief was highly controversial, as the decision was made despite complaints about his, at best, questionable ethics record.

The minister seems to be following the old adage that “silence is golden”, not least in delicate diplomatic situations.

On many occasions, we have seen the KPK reluctant to follow the money and catch the big fish in graft cases, especially when they involve politicians or high-ranking officials.            

Our democracy index may have gone up and down over the last five years, but there is no question that, overall, our democracy is in a terrible state.

This year’s Easter could not be more fitting for Indonesia and the entire world now that we are clawing our way back from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.              

The government aspires to be a crucial hub in global EV supply chains, with domestic industries covering every aspect from mineral extraction to battery recycling

There have been requests from within the country for the Foreign Ministry to do more to fend off outside criticism and convince the world of Indonesia’s human rights bona fides. But the truth is that Indonesia's diplomatic efforts to this end will be ineffective as long as human rights violations remain rampant in the country.

As long as the government’s ceiling price cannot match the farmgate price, Bulog will be unable to effectively replenish its national stock from farmers.

Now the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) says Indonesia must brace for stiff sanctions for forcing FIFA to switch the tournament to another country at the last minute.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati could have been misled by her subordinates regarding the analyzed reports on suspicious financial transactions filed by the PPATK to the Finance Ministry between 2009 and 2023.

Indonesia has a strategic role as a broker of peace at the ASEAN-China negotiating table over the disputed waters.

Now that FIFA has stripped Indonesia of its right to host the event, the country’s international credibility is at stake.

Hopes abound among the global community and the people of Myanmar that ASEAN under Indonesia’s chairmanship will achieve major breakthroughs in its bid to stop the power-hungry military from oppressing the people.

Seeing that international payments systems can be "weaponized" as part of economic warfare and observing the global divide in the US-China rivalry, Indonesia achieving financial independence through a domestic payments system would be wise.

Unless the enforcement of existing laws is not strengthened to build up a stronger GCG system within the business sector, even the omnibus law on job creation may be rendered less effective to boost investment.

It is just the common rule that foreign visitors are obliged to behave, respect and obey the local laws and norms. 

There is no question that this is a challenging time for all, as we are facing a fraught period of geopolitical alignment and an increasingly volatile global economy. 

Even more problematic than the ITE Law itself is the architecture of power that enabled its passage and perpetuates its use.

The DCA negotiations had sparked fierce debate in this country, with many, fueled by nationalist sentiment, believing the defense cooperation scheme would constitute a loss of Indonesian sovereignty by allowing Singaporean military to train on Indonesian soil. 

Indonesia should continue to voice its long-held opposition to the nuclearization of the Indo-Pacific region and the rest of the world for that matter.