Edition 53: Jan-Mar 1998 - Inside Indonesia: The peoples and cultures of Indonesia

Political gangsters

The riot that engulfed Jakarta on 27 July 1996 started after army-backed gangsters invaded Megawati's PDI headquarters. JESSE RANDALL traces the strange relationship between government and criminality.

Not your local member

When this teacher tries to explain the electoral system, he ends up in knots. SUGENG PERMANA listens in.

Godly men in green

Abri officers are becoming more Islamic, but many do not want their Islam to become a political tool for the administration, according to MARCUS MIETZNER.

Kings or kingmakers

Senior ABRI intentions may be obscure now, says BOB LOWRY, but no one should assume they will remain that way.

Watch these five!

DAMIEN KINGSBURY puts his money on five military winners in the presidential stakes. Indonesians call them the five Pendawa.

In the line of fire

Facing a sceptical public, Abri has to talk harder to justify its political role. JUN HONNA listens in.

Expelled from my home by thugs!

HERTJE SURIPATTY tells how developers used soldiers and thugs to try to force her out.

Indonesian spying on East Timorese exiles

PETER CRONAU and MATTHEW BROWN find that Cold War methods live on in Indonesian consulates around Australia.

More educated, more ruthless

DAVID BOURCHIER looks at the new generation of military leaders, after a big shakeup between July and October 1997.

Political gangsters

Not your local member

Godly men in green

Kings or kingmakers

Watch these five!

In the line of fire

Expelled from my home by thugs!

Indonesian spying on East Timorese exiles

More educated, more ruthless

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