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.
Tag: Religion
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Brunei’s Tightening Grip on Freedom of Expression
Colonial era laws have been maintained and used to silence critics in Brunei. But it’s not just about the law; the entrenched fear of speaking out is so deep that people self-censor even if actual prosecution is uncommon.
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Akan Datang: It’s a long road to building a Malaysia Baharu
This week, Pakatan Harapan’s approval ratings take a nosedive in Malaysia, Aung San Suu Kyi heads to Cambodia, and tough conversations on campus sexual harassment are ongoing in Singapore.
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“How Do You Interview God?”—Part Two
In August 2018 a Chinese-Indonesian Buddhist was sentenced to 18 months in prison for blasphemy. Now that her final appeal has been rejected by Indonesia’s Supreme Court, Meliana is speaking out against her conviction.
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Prabowo’s Identity Politics
Indonesian presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto is hoping to sweep to victory when Indonesia goes to the polls in April 2019. But he faces strong competition across the archipelago, and not least of all in his hometown in Sulawesi.
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In Limbo: Indonesia’s Ahmadiyya community
The Ahmadiyya in Indonesia have long battled allegations of heresy and blasphemy, which has lead to decades of persecution across the archipelago. As the country looks to elect a new president on 17 April 2019, Indonesia’s Ahmadis face an uncertain future.
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Writing May 13: The Weight of Our Sky
Hanna Alkaf’s novel The Weight of Our Sky is the first Malaysian young adult novel to be published internationally. It also deals with mental illness and the race riots that took place in Kuala Lumpur on 13 May 1969.
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Ahok (or BTP?)’s Post-Prison Agenda
Accused of defaming Islam, former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama paid the price with a two-year jail sentence. Now free, is Ahok returning to politics reborn or avoiding controversy with a “safe” new career?
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Religion, Singapore, and a Cancelled Metal Show
The Singapore debut of Swedish black metal band Watain was abruptly cancelled after a petition by Christians gathered over 17,000 signatures. The cancellation highlights issues of stigma against the sub-culture, and religious influence in the city-state.
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Hope in Thailand’s Deep South
Provinces in Thailand’s deep south have been the site of ongoing violent conflict since 2004. With a long-waited election approaching in March, peace and human rights activists are running for office and hoping to seek peace through democratic means.
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