The Jakarta Post Editorials: Board Perspectives

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post
Editorial premium

The state's new muscle

When the state embraces street thugs as political muscle, the violence that follows isn't an accident - it is government policy.

6 hours ago
Editorial premium

To build NU anew

As state power and political patronage close in on Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim organization faces a pivotal internal battle: preserve its independent moral voice, or become a rubber stamp for the ruling elite. ...

1 day ago
Editorial premium

Cost of recentralization

It seems to have become a pattern under the government of President Prabowo Subianto. When problems erupt, the state must “be present”, as the President often puts it, which translates into asserting itself more forcefully. ...

2 days ago

The Latest

Editorial

Less dependent on the dollar

Governments and central banks across the world have scrambled to stabilize their currencies and shield their economies from a series of United States Federal Reserve (Fed) rapid interest rate increases.                             

3 years ago
Editorial

Attack on ASEAN

Junta leader Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has given no sign of respecting ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus of peace restoration, which he accepted during an emergency summit with the bloc’s leaders in Jakarta in April 2021.

3 years ago
Editorial

Being a 'bright spot' is not enough

GDP never provides the big picture of a country's economic or social wellbeing, and we should remember that before tooting our own horn too loud.

3 years ago
Editorial

Rethinking our press freedom

Many countries have reverted to authoritarianism, while in others, including established democracies, there are signs of deterioration in the quality of freedom.            

3 years ago
Editorial

Swift and silent

Through a combination of careful planning, unwavering commitment and close cooperation with local and foreign organizations and officials, Indonesia was able to safely and effectively extract its citizens from Sudan.

3 years ago
Editorial

In police we (can) trust

Our police force needs to respond with more stringent reforms to the public's continuing high trust in them, despite the growing number of graft cases involving police officers of all ranks.

3 years ago
Editorial

The pirates of the Strait

The littoral states responsible for security in the major commercial sea-lane must step up their game against the rising tide of maritime piracy.

3 years ago
Editorial

The deforestation-free label

Categorically opposing the European Union law will make the government lose sight of the opportunities the law will create for Indonesia to improve its forest management and sustainability.              

3 years ago
Editorial

Ranking isn’t everything

The country achieved the fourth-highest gross domestic product (GDP) growth among the Group of 20 economies last year at 5.3 percent, and in April the International Monetary Fund revised its forecast for the current year.            

3 years ago
Editorial premium

Preparation is crucial

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Dialogue, not combat, ready

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

3 years ago
Editorial

Megawati’s gamble

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

3 years ago
Editorial

40 and beyond

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Safe passage

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. 

3 years ago
Editorial

People-centered ASEAN

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

A tax won’t fix tourism

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Flush with foreign exchange

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. 

3 years ago
Editorial

A bad compromise

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Whither apartheid Israel?

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.               

3 years ago
Editorial

Foul play at the KPK

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Retno’s quiet mission

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

3 years ago
Editorial

Get the rats out of the bag

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.            

3 years ago
Editorial

Protecting rights defenders

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Easter for peace

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.              

3 years ago
Editorial

IPOs crown downstream policy

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

3 years ago
Editorial

Human rights begin at home

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Reform Bulog, not rice imports

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Great soccer nation, we are not

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Money-laundering haven

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.

3 years ago
Editorial

Our role in the South China Sea

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

3 years ago
Page: 33

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.