A mother reported to Indonesian authorities that her civil servant ex-husband had raped their three children. After a two-month investigation, East Luwu Police dismissed her claims, and evidence of a possible crime. Instead, authorities found her “delusional”.

Author Archives: Eko Rusdianto
Eko started his career as an announcer at Sindikasi Berita Pantau (Yayasan Pantau Jakarta) in 2008. Now a freelance writer, he has written for a range of publications including Mongabay and Vice Indonesia. He’s based in South Sulawesi.
“The Queen” Dredging a Fishing Dead Zone
The seas off the coast of Makassar in South Sulawesi used to be filled with fish. In recent times, however, fishermen say the practice of sand dredging for reclamation projects has depleted fish stocks and caused families to go hungry.
About Happiness
While cock-fighting is frowned upon by the local authorities in Indonesia, residents of Toraja in Sulawesi still enjoy this centuries-old form of entertainment.
Fighting Fowl in Sulawesi
Chickens hold prestigious positions in Toraja, South Sulawesi. Their presence is embedded in local mythology and history, and cockfighting is an activity that’s not only a form of gambling, but also part of important rituals and used for conflict resolution.
The People of Poso
Many people lost their lives between 1998 and 2007 in Poso, Sulawesi. Now residents once swept up in the vortex of conflict choose to remember it with a dry humour—while still mindful of the potential for more violence.
Between Dreams and Anxiety
Child marriage has deep cultural and economic roots in South Sulawesi, but comes at a serious cost to those who get married at a young age.